Maro Itoje insists England are aiming to gain a psychological edge ahead of next year’s World Cup by dispatching Australia at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

The rivals clash for the final time before a projected quarter-final collision in Sydney on October 31 as the countdown to the global showpiece the Wallabies are hosting continues.

England are also seeking to improve a disappointing 2026 that has produced five defeats in eight Tests when the second phase of the Nations gets under way, culminating in finals weekend on November 27-29.

England are looking to improve a disappointing 2026 by making an impact in the upcoming Nations Championship (Ben Whitley/PA) (PA Wire)

“Each game is new but there’s no doubt that against teams you’re going to play down the line, you want them to know that you’ve got their number,” captain Itoje said.

“We want to win this weekend for this weekend’s sake, but we also want to win because we don’t want to give the opposition an inch.

“These are the games that get your blood…