England want ‘destructive’ backline

Editor

England centre Jonathan Joseph says he believes he can be at his "destructive" best in Sunday's Six Nations clash against Italy.

The 24-year-old midfielder's confidence sparks from Head Coach Eddie Jones' desire for his backline to be make a greater physical impact when they face the Azzurri in Rome. 

"We want to be a very destructive backline," said Joseph.

"Very good off set-piece moves, but just that work-rate to get in behind the forwards, bossing them around and when we see an opportunity he (Jones) wants us to take it.

"He's not going to have a go at us for taking an opportunity and not quite executing right.

"If we see a space we've got to take it.

"That's obviously something that a lot of us in the backline are happy about and pleased to play along with."

The Bath centre acknowledged that if he wants to cement his place in the number 13 jersey, he has to improve on his performances from one year ago.

"It's not so much thinking about being dropped it's about wanting to do yourself, your family and your country proud so you don't leave anything out on the pitch," he added.

"You might make mistakes, you might not have your best game, but as long as the effort is right up there then you can't really blame yourself. 

It just wasn't your game," he explained.