Danny Grewcock has called on England's forwards to raise their game.
Danny Grewcock admits the onus is on England's forwards to raise their game if they are to beat Ireland in two weeks' time.
Grewcock and co travel to Croke Park for their crunch clash with Ireland, knowing a repeat of Saturday's drab 20-7 victory over Italy will not do.
Head coach Brian Ashton attempted to deflect criticism away from his players by taking the blame for a second-rate England display, but Grewcock accepts the forwards must up their game.
"We didn't play as well as we would have liked, and there is a bit of work for us to do," said the Bath second row.
"We want to improve on the performance, but winning was important.
"I was pleased with the initial lineout ball we won, although I think sometimes we made a mess of things regarding what we did with that possession afterwards.
"We weren't as dynamic in the drive as we would have liked, but it was a good test for us. There are definitely a few areas to sit down and have a look at when we watch the video."
Jason Robinson's solitary try was all England could create in a lacklustre display that saw Italy threaten an upset in the second half.
Ashton's arrival as head coach has brought high expectations of greater imagination in the backline, but Grewcock insists it is the job of all 15 players to contribute to the attack.
"It's all very well winning set-pieces, but it is what you do after that.
"We can't expect the ball to go out to the back-line and for them to magic something up every time, so we have got to be far more involved and be more efficient in what we do to ensure the back-line get the ball on the front foot.
"If we improve in all areas, hopefully we will make a good game of it against the Irish. There is a sense of things to work on, but that is what we are on the training field for."
