Dave Attwood says England can’t be ‘dazzled by the starlight’

Dave Attwood insists England must not allow themselves to be "dazzled by the starlight" when they open their RBS 6 Nations against Wales on Friday night The injury-ravaged 2015 World Cup hosts face a side packed full of British and Irish Lions knowing that defeat would leave them with an uphill struggle to claim a first title under Stuart Lancaster.

Two years ago they ran out at the Millennium Stadium with a precious Grand Slam just 80 minutes away, only to succumb to a chastening 30-3 defeat as they wilted under the pressure of the occasion.

Attwood, now England’s senior lock with Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury and Geoff Parling in the treatment room, has warned of the danger of paying too much attention to reputations.