mobanmarketEllis Genge is convinced that England will “come out swinging” against Ireland in the final round of the Six Nations.
The English come into the game off a record defeat at home to France in Genge’s first outing as captain of his country.
They face an even tougher task in Ireland, who sit atop the world rankings and are in line to claim the Grand Slam in Dublin on St Patrick’s weekend.
Looking to show fight
Genge is desperate for the team to show their fight and prove there is “dog” in them in the clash on Super Saturday.
“We got hammered at home, we’re going away to number one in the world on St Patrick’s Day – literally a day that’s made for them – and they can win a Grand Slam,” he said.
“All odds are against us, but I’m really confident in the group that we’ll come out swinging.
“Irrespective of the scoreboard, it’s not necessarily about going out there and thinking about points.
“It’s more so now about proving a point that we have got some fight in us because that was questioned at the weekend, and it’s not where we want to be as a team.
“It’s just about putting it right for each other. It’s underpinned by the fight, and that’s something we didn’t do at the weekend. There’s definitely some dog in this team, and it wasn’t shown very well against France.
Click Here: longford gaa jerseys
“I don’t think what we showed against France is the team we are. It was abysmal on our part, and there’s a lot that we can rectify reasonably easily. Ultimately it comes down to fighting, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Work to do
The prop insists the loss to France does not define the group. However, he admits the team has work to do and expects Ireland to respect England fully.
“I don’t think one defeat defines you. It just highlights your vulnerability, shows you are not where you need to be and shows there’s a reasonable gap between us and the top of the world,” said Genge.
“Every cloud and that, but it doesn’t hide away from the fact that we had 50 points put on us at home. There’s pain and a chance for retribution as well.
“If I was Irish, I’d be mustard for this – the chance to win a Grand Slam at home. But I don’t think they’ll take us lightly, they’ll give us the respect we deserve even off the back of the 50 points.
“Ireland have changed a lot in terms of their psyche. They used to love being an underdog team and now they’re number one in the world. They’ve got to back that up, and I think they’re a brilliant team. Now we’re the underdogs.”