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kill itoje Aim for a clean sweep of four Test wins this autumn England The captain has started the countdown to the 2027 World Cup.
The Resurrection of Joe Schmidt Australia Visit the Allianz Stadium on Saturday to kick off a series which will be completed with fixtures against Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina.
The All Blacks provide blockbuster opposition of the campaign on November 15, but dangerous Fiji prevail on their last visit to Twickenham in 2023, while the Pumas are once again a force on the global stage.
“There’s no team we’re playing that we can’t beat,” British and Irish lions Captain Itoje said.
“We want to win all our games. Every player should definitely aspire to that. Our fans should expect the same mentality from us.
“The All Blacks are always tough. Whenever you get a result against them it is a big thing and it is within our capability. But first of all we have Australia and that is our immediate focus.”
Itoje led the Lions to a 2-1 series win over the Wallabies during the summer and now that task is complete, the focus turns to the next big event on the horizon.
“Especially for the guys at the top, the four-year cycle is split into two and two. You want to be part of the Lions Tour and then be part of the World Cup,” the Saracens second-row said.
“Those are two big international venues where most of the world’s attention was on rugby at that time.
“As a team and individually, we want to do really well in 2027. But to do that and have the best chance, we have these really important games in the build-up.
“You don’t just prepare for the World Cup and win. Often, the World Cup is a reflection of your work. Now we are trying to get our work together for that.”
England paraded 12 Lions in their matchday 23, including a six-strong contingent on the bench who will provide reinforcements in the second half at Twickenham.
Australia’s threat was highlighted twelve months ago when Max Jorgensen scored an overtime try to win 42–37, and since then they have gone toe-to-toe with Andy Farrell’s tourists as well as won 38–22 against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Referencing the recent Lions series, Itoje said: “When you play three games in a row against someone you start to understand the trends and what they are about.
“Australia is a tough team. Their physicality, when you look at it you don’t pay attention to it, but their players really want to lay down a marker physically.
“They’re a well-coached and well-coached team. They seem to have a real clear identity and a vision of how they want to play.”
Former England captain Lewis Moody Will deliver the match ball to the pitch before kick-off. Moody was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease.