LONDON: England's recent failure to win the Six Nations title "does burn inside us", coach Stuart Lancaster admitted on Wednesday.
Lancaster's squad has been beset by a rash of injuries, with fly-half Owen Farrell ruled out of the tournament completely on Tuesday due to knee ligament damage.
But Lancaster refused to use fitness concerns as an excuse for lowering his squad's sights in a year when England will also host the World Cup.
Since they won the Six Nations title in 2003 -- the same year they lifted the World Cup -- England have been crowned kings of European rugby just once, in 2011, when Martin Johnson was in charge of the side.
Under Lancaster, England have endured the frustration of three runners-up finishes.
"We are frustrated that we haven't nailed down that Championship win -- it does burn inside us," said Lancaster at the launch of the 2015 Six Nations in London.
"You have to earn the right to stamp your authority.. but we've now got the experience where we want performances that lead to wins."
England, however, have a tough start to the tournament away to World Cup pool opponents Wales in Cardiff on February 6.
"I don't think our motivation will be different from any other side. Wales are a quality side, full of British and Irish Lions," said Lancaster.
England's last visit to Cardiff saw their quest for a Grand Slam demolished with a 30-3 thrashing by Wales in 2013.
Asked if that had been a watershed match, Lancaster replied: "You're probably right. You can learn more from defeats than victories.
"There have been a few big pressure games, beating Wales at home last year was a big game because of the World Cup."
Prior to Farrell's injury, suffered while playing for Saracens in the European Champions Cup last weekend, England had also seen powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi sidelined with a groin problem.
Meanwhile, fellow-midfielders Brad Barritt (knee) and Kyle Eastmond (shoulder) are struggling to be fit in time for the Millennium Stadium clash against Wales.
Northampton centre Luther Burrell suffered concussion against Racing Metro at the weekend but hopes to resume full training later this week.
Up front, flanker Tom Wood and lock Geoff Parling also sustained ankle and knee injuries respectively in a gruelling round of European action.
England were already without No 8 Ben Morgan (leg) and second row Joe Launchbury (neck) for the Six Nations while lock Courtney Lawes has been ruled out for the first few weeks while he recovers from ankle surgery.
Lancaster refused to rule Barritt and Parling out of the Wales game, but did say time was running out for the duo.
"I don't anticipate the injuries to be more than a couple of weeks. Obviously, the clock is ticking for the Wales game, they may be available for Italy," said Lancaster.
"We need them to train Sunday/Monday."
There have long been concerns that a season where leading players are exposed to week in, week out Premiership competition, plus high-profile European club games, as well as internationals, makes them particularly vulnerable to injury despite an agreement between England's leading clubs and the governing Rugby Football Union.
"Brad, Geoff's and Owen's injuries could have happened to any player at any time," said Lancaster.
As to whether he felt any extra pressure ahead of a home World Cup, Lancaster said: "There's plenty of pressure being the national coach of England.
"I can't start thinking about the World Cup now. As we've seen, rugby changes on a weekly basis."
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