England have their ‘identity back' - Ugo Monye

Former winger Ugo Monye believes England now have their ‘identity’ back and he fully expects them to seal the Six Nations Grand Slam this weekend.

New Head Coach Eddie Jones has guided England to a first Six Nations championship since 2011 and they can secure the Grand Slam with victory in Paris on Saturday.

Monye, who represented England on 14 occasions, told TRU: “We feel like we have our identity back. Now, we are back to where I believe we should be.

“I know we have already won it, but it’s the manner in which we have won it. Our set-piece is functioning well, the defence was once again outstanding against Wales and the physicality has been there.

“We’ve then complimented that with exciting runners with the likes of Jack Nowell, Mike Brown and Anthony Watson in the back three who are devastating when they’re given ball. We are getting back to our best and the belief is there in the squad.”

England clinched the title due to Scotland’s win over France on Sunday, which means that they have an unassailable lead at the top of the Six Nations table.

Their achievement over the last seven weeks has wiped away the memories of their dismal World Cup performance last year, where they became the first tournament hosts not to advance past the pool stage.

That led to Stuart Lancaster being replaced by Jones in November and the Australian has made a great start to life with England. He has won all four of his games in charge so far and now he is on the verge of securing England’s first Grand Slam since 2003.

Monye said: “Eddie Jones has now delivered the Six Nations at the first time of asking and in my opinion, after watching France; I can’t see anything other than an English victory away in Paris.

“What a turnaround in fortune. Just a few months ago we’re mourning and now it is incredible to think that six months on, we could be celebrating something spectacular which we have waited 13 years for.”

England clinched the Triple Crown after a 25-21 win over Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, 23 weeks after Warren Gatland’s side produced a dramatic turnaround to beat England in the World Cup.

Jones has now firmly put his stamp on this England team including handing debuts to the likes of Elliot Daly and Maro Itoje as well taking the captaincy from Chris Robshaw and handing it to Dylan Hartley.

“He’s only been there six weeks in terms of the handling of the players,” added Monye.

“You have to say Stuart Lancaster and his coaches gave a great platform for Eddie Jones to pick up from and I think what Eddie has done is give England the belief.

“Sometimes nothing changes, but we’ve had a lot of change. We have been the nearly men for so long, which is something that you would ever relate to England, but now that is changing.

“It has certainly been redemption for a lot of those players that were part of the World Cup and Robshaw is one of those men.

“Eddie Jones has spoken really highly of him. To bounce back after captaining a side that got booted out of your own party just a few months ago and to come back and get on with it, have the captaincy stripped from you and play every game with that professionalism; you have to tip your hat to him.”

And Moyne is confident that England can achieve the Grand Slam and believes that this England side will not pass up this opportunity.

He added: “You are talking about a team which is playing with so much confidence whereas France look in tatters. I don’t see any unity about them and that is one thing you have got to have in any top level sport.

"Their mentally fragile and England will go out there and I expect them to be the aggressors in the game. They haven’t given me any reason to think that they won’t just beat them, but put a few points on France.

“France are the most unpredictable team in the northern hemisphere though. They could just show up, but England will prepare expecting France to be at their very best and that’s how you should prepare.

"England won’t be sitting back. You don’t get many chances to become Grand Slam champions and I can’t imagine, with the mind-set instilled in them, that they are going to let this one slip.”