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Maro Itoje insists England are ready to show their true selves when they launch the Rugby World Cup with the toughest assignment of their group campaign against Argentina.<\/p>\n
For the first time in the fixture\u2019s 42 years England are underdogs on the basis of an alarming run that has produced five defeats in their last six Tests, including a first ever loss to Fiji.<\/p>\n
The Pumas, meanwhile, have been acclaimed by Steve Borthwick as the best team to leave Argentinian shores and November\u2019s 30-29 victory at Twickenham is still vivid in the memory.<\/p>\n
England are struggling on multiple fronts \u2013 attack, defence, discipline, cohesion, confidence \u2013 and have plummeted to eighth in the global rankings, two places lower than Saturday\u2019s opponents in Marseille.<\/p>\n
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Itoje, however, insists they are about to turn the corner and place one foot into the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know who we are. We know the type of players we have. We know the quality of coaches we have,\u201d Itoje said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes we haven\u2019t in recent times played as well as we can, but we know the potential of this group.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when you know the potential of this group and you know the attitude of the players and the coaches, it can only fill you with confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know we haven\u2019t played our best rugby, but I guess that may add an element of fuel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe real motivation is where this team can go. The real motivation is how we can properly display the best of ourselves and give the very best account of ourselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the exciting opportunity that this brings. It\u2019s an incredible opportunity and that\u2019s the motivation to see where we can go and how good we can be.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a strong feeling and belief within the group now that things can change very quickly and the best is yet to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoments like this don\u2019t come very often throughout our careers. Top, top players have three chances and that\u2019s a lot. So we want to take this with both hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
If they are to topple Argentina, England will need to produce a level of performance that has been beyond them so far in Borthwick\u2019s nine Tests in charge.<\/p>\n
Expectations are low, even allowing for their presence in the easier side of the draw, but attack coach Richard Wigglesworth insists the outside noise is being tuned out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019m too interested in expectations outside of the squad, if I\u2019m being honest. That\u2019s been labelled at us a few times,\u201d Wigglesworth said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou\u2019ve got to understand that this squad is incredibly tight and determined. Whether that is from the outside or within, that has always been there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe expectation that Argentina maybe go in as favourites makes no difference to us. We are incredibly determined to go out there and give the absolute best of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n