Skipper Chris Robshaw will draw on his Harlequins memory banks as England go in search of the Six Nations title in Italy tomorrow.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster’s men knowing a thumping win over the Azzurri and a France triumph over Ireland in the Stade de France will give them the crown.
They can still win the championship if Ireland beat Les Bleus, but will need to overhaul a points difference of at least 49.
But Robshaw has warned against going for broke pointing to Quins’ Heineken Cup experience in 2012, when they missed out on the quarter-finals because of their ambition.
“We went to Connacht in the Heineken Cup and Toulouse went to Gloucester,” he said.
“We thought we would need a bonus-point win to win, but Toulouse actually lost.
“If we had won the game by taking our kicks and not chasing the game we would have gone through.
“The perception inside the camp is that Italy is going to be a very tough game.
“We know how tough it will be. The attacking rugby they play has come on in leaps and bounds.”
Robshaw, Danny Care, Mike Brown and Joe Marler all start for England in Italy tomorrow.
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