England centre Jonathan Joseph has said that his side are using recent disappointments to spur them on to the Six Nations title this year.
The Red Rose have finished as runners-up in each of the last four championships, and infamously failed to reach the knockout stages of their own World Cup under Stuart Lancaster last year.
However, they have won three from three so far under Eddie Jones and take on Wales at Twickenham on Saturday in what could effectively prove to be the title decider.
"I think because previously we've had a lot of disappointment, a lot of setbacks, that's hurt us as a team. We know what it feels like to not quite get there. Obviously last Six Nations we didn't quite make it and the World Cup was obviously not great for us," Joseph is quoted as saying by PA.
"So we've had our fair share of disappointment and I think everyone knows in their own mind that we don't want to feel like that again. We're fully committed to doing all we can to win this next game. That's what everyone feels, that's how we've approached it. Fingers crossed we're going to get that win.
"I think those bad experiences are good for us. I think we've grown from that. I think it's good to have that inside, that extra little driving factor to spur us on. We just didn't quite get it right when the World Cup came around. We know what we need to do. We're preparing well for Wales. Hopefully it will go right for us at the weekend and we'll manage to cause them a bit of trouble when we attack them."
Victory for England against Wales, coupled with a Scotland win against France, would hand England their first Six Nations crown since 2011 with a game to spare.
Barney Corkhill
