MOURITZ Botha believes England can go on to build “something special“ after laying the foundation stones with last weekend’s breakthrough victory over Scotland.

The Saracens lock revealed how England’s first Murrayfield triumph in eight years was inspired by pop star Lana del Rey.

The American singer’s top-10 hit Video Games was playing as the England squad walked into the Murrayfield changing room – and everyone knew what that meant.

Stuart Lancaster had used the song to soundtrack a motivational highlights video - one of the tools England’s interim coach used to unite his new-look squad.

England battled to a 13-6 victory in Edinburgh and are now anxious to build on that gutsy performance against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

“The bond we have created is something that we showed on Saturday and it is building towards something special,” said Botha, who will be named in the England team when it is announced today.

“Stuart got it spot-on with the build up of emotions. This song was playing in the dressing room as you walked in.

“It was the backing track to a highlights package that had been made for us featuring all the players.

“It made the hairs stand up. It gave you the feeling you are ready for this.” England’s challenge now is to recreate that emotion and build on the performance this weekend in the imposing new surroundings of Italy’s Stadio Olimpico.

“It will be a big battle,” said Botha. “Italy are one of the sides which has made massive strides over the past few years. They are not a wooden-spoon team any more. At home in their new stadium they will be up for the challenge with 70,000 fans behind them.

“It was a brilliant occasion on Saturday at Murrayfield and to be facing something like that again will be a brilliant challenge.

“Initially we were really happy with the result last weekend but when you do your review in retrospect there are a lot of things to work on.

“Our work rate, character and defence overall were positive but when we rated our attack and ball retention we had really low scores. Those things we have to improve on. In attack we can offer a lot more.”

The games keep getting bigger for Botha, who moved from South Africa to England in October 2004 after National League Three club Bedford Athletic were the only one of 20 clubs to answer his letter.

Botha moved on to the Bedford Blues in 2006 and then, in 2010, saw a message on Facebook that Saracens were looking to bolster their second-row options.