Stevens: England can still win 2008 Six Nations
Monday, 11 Feb 2008 22:14
Matt Stevens is hopeful about England's Six Nations chances.
Matt Stevens has claimed that England can win the Six Nations, despite poor performances in their first two games.
The team had a narrow victory over Italy on Sunday – finishing 23-19 in Rome a week after their 26-19 defeat by Wales at Twickenham.
Despite taking a 14-point lead in the first half, England only mustered three points in the second half of the match at the Stadio Flaminio.
However, the Bath prop said that Brian Ashton's men can snatch victory if they win in Paris and Edinburgh.
England would then face Ireland at Twickenham in the final match with a chance of taking the title.
"It could turn out to be a championship where nobody gets a grand slam," Stevens said.
Stevens joined the national squad in Rome after a late illness affected captain Phil Vickery.
He added that injury has blighted the team's tournament so far.
Both Mike Tindall and Tom Rees are set to miss the remaining Six Nations matches while David Strettle is struggling with a foot injury and Andrew Sheridan is out with an infection.
"We are a new team, and a team forced to make a lot of changes through injury. Winning in Rome is no longer anything like a gimme," Stevens continued.