THE BLAME OF THE ROSE

Itoje insists players at fault for England's slump, not the coach

- FROM ADAM HATHAWAY IN ROME

MARO ITOJE deflected the pressure off under-fire boss Steve Borthwick and heaped it on his own team in the wake of another Six Nations shambles.

The skipper, one of two players sinbinned as England handed a historic win to Italy, launched a staunch defence of the head coach and urged the players to front up.

England have gone off the rails spectacularly in the last month, crashing to defeats to Scotland, Ireland and now Italy, for the first time in 33 Tests, and questions need to be answered.

Their 12-match unbeaten run is a distant memory as all facets of their game - defence, attack and discipline - have gone on the missing list.

But Itoje has backed Borthwick and his staff despite former internationals like Matt Dawson and Ugo Monye questioning his game-plan and his future.