England full-back Alex Goode has admitted the side must be more "ruthless and clinical" if they are to beat Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and so claim their first Six Nations Grand Slam in a decade.
Table-toppers England maintained their unbeaten record against Italy, but failed to score a try or the first time in 19 Tests during a faltering 18-11 win at Twickenham.
Instead, committed defence allied to reliable goal-kicking saw England home.
However, there is a sense England - who scored three tries during a shock defeat of world champions New Zealand in December and four in their Six Nations opener against Scotland - have retreated into their shells the closer they've got to a first Grand Slam since their World Cup-winning year of 2003.
Since that 38-18 Calcutta Cup win over the Scots, England have managed just one try in their last three matches.
Wales, meanwhile, have not conceded a try in their last three Tests. The Dragons' hopes of back-to-back Slams were dashed by a first round loss at home to Ireland.
If Wales win by eight points this weekend they will retain the title, while a win by seven points would see the Championship decided on try count, with the Welsh currently two tries better off (seven to five) than England.
But while an England defeat would scupper their Slam bid, losing by fewer than seven points would still see them crowned champions.
Goode, one of several England backs who failed to shine in an attacking sense against Italy, admitted the team had fallen short against Italy but insisted they could yet finish the job against a resurgent Wales - 28-18 winners over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
"We are confident in the group and the way we are playing, we just need to be more ruthless and clinical," said Goode.
"The opportunities we had in the first half we didn't quite put away. I was culpable for that.
"If you don't get your points on the board when you are on top, it gives them a lot of emotional energy and it was tough for us.
"The good thing is we are getting ourselves in a position to score.
"If we weren't getting close we would be worried. Finishing is something we need to get better at, but the good thing is that our attacking framework is getting us into a position to score."
And Goode insisted the fact England were on a five-match winning streak, dating back to their sensational 38-21 win over New Zealand, would stand the team in good stead at what is sure to be a raucous Millennium Stadium.
"Winning is a habit. We took a lot of confidence from the New Zealand game and we brought it into the tournament," Goode said.
"We could have scored more tries but we have improved and I think game by game we have got better as a group.
"Obviously the changing room is not ecstatic, but we got a result against a tough team who have beaten the French this year when we have not played well.
"Wales will have the passion and the hype and intensity behind them but we went to Ireland and met fire with fire there. We will take it to Wales."
Comments
lawynd says...
@NHsaints - I completely agree on Goode, not so much on Lawes; don't get me wrong I rate him highly but he obviously isn't completely fit yet and his workrate needs to increase. He'll probably start because I doubt we'll be lucky enough for both Parling and Launchbury to be fit for Saturday, but they've both earned their place, IMO and our problems aren't in the second row. I think Hartley should start at hooker because he's currently the better (and more experienced) scrummager, which will help Marler or Vunipola (I think the latter has the edge, personally), and Youngs is a far better impact player with his ball carrying and aggression - he needs to be on the field for at least half an hour, though.
Posted 10:19 13th March 2013
chancer says...
How can anyone play a ruthless game when the refs decisions are a lottery, said before on other posts, the result of the game may well depend on who the ref is, particularly if it is a SH person whos interpretation of the rules is different from what we have in NH games week by week.
Posted 07:49 13th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
I don't recall a team on 4 out of 4 in the 6 nations ever getting so much stick. It's great news expectation is so high and exciting to think what England can do when the good performances do come! Let's hope the first one since ABs comes on Saturday... They seem to be big game performers... And Farrell should steady the ship.
Posted 21:31 12th March 2013
NHsaints says...
Let's be honest, Goode isn't international material...he's solid enough but he doesn't bring anything unique or special to the table where Brown or Foden would, Ashton as usual isn't out of form, he just thrives best when the rest of the team is playing well and we're not at the minute, We need to make some changes - Farrel back at 10, Lawes into the second row, give both Hookers 40 minutes on the park since neither have proved their mettle yet this year, Use Vunipola or Marler (both are very good now), Bring Croft into the starting XV for Haskell and Youngs starting ahead of Care and last but by no means least move Brown to 15 and bring Foden back on the wing (or at least Wade or May).
Posted 19:09 12th March 2013
nicenrh says...
Goode has been terrible for more than just against italy.. he and ashton should be dropped. We cannot afford to have tackles missed. I fail to see what Goode adds to the team at the moment
Posted 17:25 12th March 2013
Warrior7 says...
If we had 12trees at 12 then another distributer wouldn't be needed -
9. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. Foden
12. 12trees
13. Manu
14. Ashton
15. Brown
Posted 16:30 12th March 2013
ClarKent says...
"...just one try in their last three matches" Is history about to repeat itself? Instead of 2003 becoming 2015, but a season of relying on kicks to win, they disintegrate at the last post! After the hype of beating the AB's; talking of 2015 WC before winning 2013 6N; struggling against France, Ireland and Italy (remember the prediction of 5 tries?) Any wonder so many support anyone who plays England!? They're still plodding. They really haven't learnt to fly yet.
Posted 13:02 12th March 2013
Jediboy says...
We need Foden fit again!!
Posted 12:10 12th March 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
What we REALLY want is alex goode not to stand at ten if he can't execute a 6 on 2 man overlap.
Goode's go one game in cardiff then win lose or draw he's out on his ear.
Posted 12:02 12th March 2013
txoxmxaxsx says...
SHocking defensive display from Goode last weekend against Italy. I always thought he was not defensively sound but gave him the benefit of the doubt. An international fullback CANNOT miss one on one tackles. He was lucky cover was pretty good.
Posted 11:08 12th March 2013
tha_mai says...
Is this their cunning Plan B?
Before this there was "England aim to scare teams into errors" and "building a reputation for striking fear into their opponents"
A work in progress, that one. I will wait to see a scared and fear-stricken Welsh team.
Posted 09:25 12th March 2013