England vs Italy LIVE rugby: Six Nations 2023 result and reaction to first win of Steve Borthwick era
Steve Borthwick’s side outclassed the Azzurri to earn their first win of the new era at Twickenham
England delivered a performance of ruthless efficiency and forward power to overwhelm Italy 31-14 on Sunday for a five-try bonus-point victory that got their Six Nations campaign back on track after last week’s defeat by Scotland.
The hosts might not have matched the sparkling rugby seen in Saturday’s two matches but Italy could not live with their pack strength, particularly a seemingly unstoppable rolling maul, following coach Steve Borthwick’s promise to get back to basics.
Having won only one of their last six games at Twickenham, the home fans were not about to start complaining about style, though Borthwick’s decision to mix up his midfield looked a good one as man of the match Ollie Lawrence brought much-needed pace and intensity to the inside centre channel.
First-half tries for Jack Willis, Ollie Chessum and Jamie George put England 19-0 up at halftime. A penalty try earned the bonus point and though Italy crossed twice in a more evenly-balanced second half, England finished strongly with a crowd-pleasing finish by exciting replacement winger Henry Arundell.
Their 30th win in 30 meetings with Italy continued England’s stranglehold on the fixture and maintained their position as the only team never to have lost to the Italians since they joined the competition in 2000.
H/T: England 19-0 Italy
After what happened to his leg 24 months ago here against Italy, and given how tough this season has been, too, how pleasing a moment this must have been for Jack Willis.
H/T: England 19-0 Italy
A nerve settler of a half for England fans fretting about the Steve Borthwick era after a flat start against Scotland. England have done the basics well, two maul scores to particularly please their head coach and Ollie Chessum going over, too. Jack Willis has been superb on his return, carrying in a forthright manner and with trademark threat at the breakdown, while Ollie Lawrence has enjoyed his own productive return - England have used the centre intelligently so far, using him from a variety of angles to win the first phase gainline. Italy haven’t yet really entered a fractured contest.
England 19-0 Italy, 40 minutes
Owen Farrell almost snatches a score! Clever variation from Jack van Poortvliet, spotting Tommaso Menoncello pushing too far towards the left touchline in the backfield and lifting a box into space thus left vacant.
An exaggerated skywards bounce threatens to fall kindly for Farrell, but the England captain can’t gather under pressure ten metres out.
That’ll do us for the first 40.
England 19-0 Italy, 39 minutes
Italy spin it left and right, hunting a hole in an England defence looking rather better organised than a week ago. Juan Ignacio Brex fires a pass to no-one in particular, and England can hunt a bonus point before the half from Italian territory.
England 19-0 Italy, 38 minutes
Lorenzo Cannone returns from the sin bin with England two tries further to the good than when the number eight departed, and Italy in a bit of a hole. England’s power game has kept Italy out of it in the last 15 minutes, with a fractured game quite suiting the hosts.
TRY! ENGLAND 19-0 Italy (Jamie George try, 37 minutes)
No doubt about that one!
Banker ball to Lewis Ludlam at the front, and England’s forwards and backs gather en masse aroudn their jumper. In come Henry Slade and Owen Farrell to lend their mass, but it’s scarcely required - Jamie George this time the beneficiary of his forwards work against an under-manned Italian defensive lineout.
Farrell’s conversion is tugged away to the left.
No try! England 14-0 Italy, 36 minutes
There’s a shove in the back from Ollie Lawrence as he tangles legs with Manuel Zuliani, creating a hole through which Malins then shimmies - there isn’t much in it, really, but Zuliani would have been there to halt the England wing but for Lawrence’s bump.
NO TRY! James Doleman has a look at three angles and chalks it off.
England have a penalty on the other side, once again kicked into the corner.
TRY? England 14-0 Italy
Max Malins sparks it, Jack van Poortvliet scores it, but is there obstruction in the build up to the scrum half’s score?
England 14-0 Italy, 34 minutes
Nearly for England! Outstanding cover from Edoardo Padovani!
Sharp sniping from Jack van Poortvliet to exploit some slow Italian fringe defence, and Ellis Genge is with his scrum half in support. Stephen Varney grapples with Genge, eventually bringing him to floor, but there are still chances for England if the ball is quick.
It isn’t, forcing Farrell again to boot, with Jamie George favourite of the chasers. But George doesn’t quite have the gas, allowing Padovani to get to the hopping ball first.
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