Easter: We are on right path

Number eight predicts bright future for England

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 8th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Easter: We are on right path

Easter: Predicts bright England future

We are just glad now that we have a yardstick and I don't think it will be another false dawn.

Nick Easter
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Nick Easter believes England set the benchmark for their RBS Six Nations campaign with victory over Wales on Saturday.

The Harlequins forward was one of England's most solid performers in the Twickenham clash as he helped Martin Johnson's men record a 30-17 win.

Easter has been a key component to England victories before - against Australia and France in the 2007 World Cup, Ireland in the 2008 Six Nations and more recently the French again last year.

But he believes Saturday's result holds more weight than any previous successes as it indicates definite progress in the England squad, something that was distinctly absent in their miserable autumn campaign.

Meaningful

"It was up there as one of the most meaningful results I have been involved in," said the number eight. "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."

Easter was central to England's success against Wales, excelling in the back-row unit and helping create line-out dominance, as well as providing the launch pad for scrum-half Danny Care to cause problems for the visitors.

However, he insists England will not let the victory go to their heads ahead of a trip to the Stadio Flaminio in Rome on Sunday to take on Italy.

Turgid

"The first half was a bit turgid around the 10-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."

Riki Flutey is expected to go straight back into the side for Sunday's clash after the Brive centre missed the Wales game with a dead leg.