Relaxed environment: Easter
Nick Easter is convinced England's victory over Wales on Saturday is the start of a bright future and not just another false dawn.
The Harlequins number eight was one of the outstanding performers as Martin Johnson's men launched their Six Nations campaign with a priceless 30-17 win.
Easter has been involved in significant England victories before - against Australia and France in the 2007 World Cup, Ireland in the 2008 Six Nations and the French again last season.
But he believes Saturday's victory over Wales could top the lot because it has finally provided tangible proof to both the players and fans that things are moving in the right direction.
That was particularly important in the wake of England's miserable autumn campaign - which Easter missed through injury - when it had been virtually impossible to identify any progress at all.
"It was up there as one of the most meaningful results I have been involved in," said Easter.
"We are just glad now that we have a yardstick and I don't think it will be another false dawn.
"The environment is a lot more relaxed. As an international side, you try and achieve it becoming more like a club environment and player led, which Johnno is always striving for.
"We are getting there. We have been together for two weeks, we have had one result, so I am not getting carried away but we are definitely heading in the right direction.
"We are getting some sort of identity, which is what we want. To get the result with three tries, it was a good start. We showed character when Wales came back from 20-3 to 20-17."
Easter was at the centre of everything that worked well for England - the back-row unit, the lineout dominance and in providing the platform for scrum-half Danny Care to cause Wales continued problems.
Nevertheless, England are not getting carried away. Easter knows they are still some distance from the finished article and will need to improve again against Italy on Sunday.
"The first half was a bit turgid around the ten-metre lines. We tried to play a bit of rugby but defences are good at that stage," said Easter.
"One area we need to work on is taking the points when we are down there. We have to turn pressure into points and that is something we will learn.
"It is a must-win game in Italy but it is going to be tough. They are a good side.
"They have been in the Six Nations now for ten years. A lot of their players are playing in our league and the French league.
"Any team will miss Sergio Parisse, he is a world-class number eight and he has been for a number of years, but they will cope without him. They have got good strength in depth, particularly in the forwards."
England expect to have Riki Flutey available after he missed Saturday's game with a dead leg and the Brive centre is likely to go straight back into the team.
Comments
kent says...
In the context of the 6 nations, Italy are not a good side
Posted 18:10 08th February 2010