England must beat Ireland to reassert dominance - Itoje

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - England vs Ireland - Twickenham Stadium, London, Britain - March 17, 2018 England’s Maro Itoje and team mates look dejected at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

(Reuters) - England must beat Ireland in their Six Nations opener on Saturday if they are to regain their status as Europe's dominant force ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan, Maro Itoje has said.

Ireland proved a class apart in 2018 after winning the Six Nations Grand Slam, earning a test series victory in Australia and beating world champions New Zealand in Dublin, and are seeking back-to-back titles for the second time in six years.

England have not recorded a victory in Dublin since 2013 but Itoje said they were ready for the challenge.

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - England v New Zealand - Twickenham Stadium, London, Britain - November 10, 2018 England's Maro Itoje wins the lineout Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

"Over the last year or so, Ireland have been the number one team in the northern hemisphere," the lock told British media.

"The only way to rectify that is to beat Ireland.

"We can definitely beat them, I have no doubt in my mind about that. It's a great way to start and will be a great way to kick off what will hopefully be a very successful year for us."

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)