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Last Updated: Monday, 14 March, 2005, 08:45 GMT
Cueto revels in hat-trick heroics
By James Standley
BBC Sport at Twickenham

Mark Cueto
England's Mark Cueto was delighted to have rediscovered his scoring touch in Saturday's 39-7 win over Italy.

"Obviously just from a personal point I'm massively happy with it," said the Sale winger.

"I've struggled to get over the line this year - there's been a bit of banter around the England squad as well as back up at Sale.

"For any player, it's always nice to get over the line, and especially to score a hat-trick."

Cueto has now scored seven tries in seven internationals for England but admitted his recent blank spell had caused him concern.

"As a winger you're there to score tries and, if you go a couple of weeks without scoring one you tend get a bit of banter," he said.

"I was not getting worried about it but it is there in the back of your mind, you do get a little bit frustrated by it and then try to force little things.

Ben Kay stamped on my leg and he's obviously one of the lumps of the team
Mark Cueto on his pre-match injury scare
"You're trying to get over the line but thankfully today the team was brilliant and, to be honest with you, I didn't have to do a great deal for any of my tries.

"It was more down to the lines and the hands of the lads inside me."

The Sale winger suffered a scare before the game when he was hurt during the warm-up, but he laughed off the incident after the match.

He said: "We were doing a rucking drill that we do every week. As I took the ball in to hit the bags I went down to the deck.

"One of the guys came in to clear the pads out and stamped right on my knee and it was Ben Kay, one of the biggest lumps in the team.

"It was quite sore initially, but I just ran it off in the game."

England's victory was their first in the Six Nations this year and, after a disappointing season, they will be looking to finish on a high against Scotland next Saturday.

"All the boys were brilliant today and I'm just looking forward to playing Scotland next week down here," said Cueto.


WATCH AND LISTEN
Highlights: England 39-7 Italy


Interview: England's Mark Cueto


Interview: England coach Andy Robinson



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