Thursday 11 February 2016 10:11, UK
Defence coach Paul Gustard admits England still have plenty to work on despite the promising start under coach Eddie Jones.
England began their Six Nations campaign with a hard-fought 15-9 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, although there was little sign of the high-tempo rugby that Jones is keen to implement in his new side.
Jones has said England will get fitter under his tutelage and Gustard, brought in by Jones as part of an overhaul of the entire coaching staff, said circumstances dictated much of England's approach to the game.
"We want to increase the tempo, but unfortunately due to the weather conditions, due to perhaps the time we spent together, due to how good Scotland were defensively in the first half, we weren't able to get that stranglehold on the game in terms of our tempo," Gustard told Sky Sports News HQ.
"It's again something we will try to earmark this weekend and in the games after that.
"The first-half wasn't perfect from a defence coach point of view. We got cut three times, two in and around the line-out at the back of the maul, so it's something we've been trying to work on this week.
"The second-half improved significantly and I think we looked quite comfortable in terms of containing Scotland, who have a very good attack and they are a well-coached team."
Next up for England is a trip to Rome to face Italy in their second straight away game and Gustard says he is focusing his efforts on containing No 8 Sergio Parisse, who remains the heartbeat of the Italian team.
"Italy have progressed a lot. They've beaten everyone else but England in the Six Nations," he added.
"Parisse has been their talisman - he can do the unexpected, he's not a traditional forward, he wants to step up as a first receiver, he wants to try a drop goal, he wants to put a chip in, so he's a target for us to try and neutralise.
"There are a lot of other good players around him. His legs aren't quite what they used to be in terms of the amount of involvement he has, but they've got two wings that have got a lot pace and the 10 looked a tidy player at the weekend as well.
"They're going to be a good team, they're certainly well coached and will be diligent in defence."
