Silverware trumps landmark for Cueto

Mark Cueto will be proud to collect his 50th England cap at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday – but what he really wants is a Grand Slam winners’ medal.

The Sale wing feels his international career, which dates back to 2004 and includes a Test appearance for the Lions against New Zealand, will be incomplete without any silverware.

England’s points difference advantage over Wales means they could be crowned RBS 6 Nations champions even if they lose to Ireland this weekend.

But Cueto, who at 31 is the old man of England’s exciting back three, would not settle for that, particularly at this stage of his career.

After coming so close in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, and having experienced some dark times with England, Cueto views the opportunity to seal a Grand Slam on Irish soil as priceless.

“You play for 10 years in this game and you can count on one hand the number of times you get something tangible out of the game,” Cueto said.

“I am in my seventh year with England and I have never won anything. I am not getting any younger and it is massive opportunity this weekend on a personal level.

“We are going into probably one of the biggest games an England team have had since that 2007 World Cup final.

“I massively appreciate playing for England. There are plenty of players who have never done it and it is an achievement in itself. I am respectful of that.

“To win my 50th cap in Dublin will definitely be something special, it is something you always dream about – but you want to be successful, you want to win things.”

The last time England won the Grand Slam was in 2003, when they sealed it in emphatic fashion with a 42-6 victory over Ireland at the old Lansdowne Road.

Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Steve Thompson all played that day and are still members of the squad, while Martin Johnson and Graham Rowntree are now on the coaching staff.

That England team captained by Johnson would go on to win the World Cup and then disband. Cueto came into a side that was rudderless after losing its core of leaders.

The England team now managed by Johnson is in a very different position and Cueto believes they are only at the start of what could be a thrilling journey.

“These are exciting times. It is only in the last eight months we have been able to show what we can do and there is more to come from this team,” Cueto said.

“We are not a bunch of muppets. We know there is a Grand Slam there to be won. It’s not like we don’t talk about it.

“But as a group we know if we look after the here and now the bigger bonus will fall into place. That is something we have done since the start of the Six Nations.”

“We have a great mix. We have a lot of guys who are experienced and have experienced big games. You can’t buy that.

“We also have young guys like Chris Ashton and Ben Foden, who are so high on life and confident that they don’t get caught up in the occasion. They know what they can do and have proven it.”

That hunger and determined focus around the squad led Rowntree to describe the current England team as more ambitious than the 2003 red rose vintage.

“What comparisons can you make between now and 2003? Are we as settled as that outfit? No,” Rowntree said.

“That team had been together for a long time and had a few heartaches - (missing out on the Grand Slam) against Scotland in 2000 and at Wembley against Wales in 1999.

“Are we as close as a group as we were then? Yes. Are we as ambitious? I think this group are even more ambitious with the youngsters we have here.

“These guys are very demanding of each other and of us as coaches. I have not seen it before. We give them the menu, they decide how to play.”

One of those youngsters at the opposite end of the career scale to Cueto is Alex Corbisiero, who only made his England debut against Italy and is now within touching distance of a Grand Slam.

Rowntree compared Corbisiero’s arrival on the Test scene with that of Trevor Woodman, who established himself in the England set-up in 2003 and went on to start the World Cup final.

“I am delighted how Corbs has come in and taken his chance,” Rowntree said.

“He came in at the last minute for that Italy game (after Andrew Sheridan was injured) and was really composed. He has taken it in his stride.

“His accuracy and his energy are exemplary. He did really well against France and again against Scotland. He made 18 tackles. He is very accurate in his work and he doesn’t stop.

“He is a very coachable kid. The signs are he will be a fine prop and this Saturday is another step along the road.”