England vs Italy result: Watson try seals convincing farewell victory as Italians kept scorelees

Re-live all the action from St James’ Park where England ran in four tries in a dominant display as they prepare to leave for Japan

Rugby World Cup 2019: All you need to know

England finished their preparations for the Rugby World Cup with a convincing 37-0 demolition of Italy to make it three wins from four warm-up games.

Ben Youngs, Joe Marchant, Ellis Genge and Anthony Watson all scored second-half tries to seal the victory in style, with Owen Farrell kicking 17 points including three first-half penalties in what was a uncharacteristically slow start from the hosts.

However, the second half saw England find their stride as they dominated Italy, who found themselves without a single chance of scoring after the break, though the victory was soured by injuries to Joe Launchbury, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Kyle Sinckler.

England fly to Japan on Sunday for a 10-day training camp in Miyazaki, before playing their first World Cup fixture against Tonga on 22 September. Re-live all the action below.

When is it?

England vs Italy takes place at St James’ Park on Friday 6 September.

What time does it start?

The match kicks off at 7:45pm.

Where can I watch it?

The Test will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action from 7pm. Highlights will be shown on BBC One at 11:05pm and at 11am on Saturday on BBC Two.

Teams

England: Anthony Watson; Ruaridh McConnochie, Joe Marchant, Piers Francis, Jonny May’ Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes; Tom Curry, Mark Wilson, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Charlie Ewels, Matt Kvesic, Willi Heinz, George Ford, Joe Cokanasiga.

Italy: Jayden Hayward; Mattia Bellini, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Edoardo Padovani; Carlo Canna, Callum Braley; Nicola Quaglio, Oliviero Fabiani, Simone Ferrari; David Sisi, Dean Budd; Sebastian Negri, Abraham Steyn, Jimmy Tuivaiti.

Replacements: Federico Zani, Andrea Lovotti, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, Alessandro Zanni, Maxime Mbanda, Guglielmo Palazzani, Tommaso Allan.

Odds

England to win: 1/41

Italy to win: 50/1

Draw: 100/1

Prediction

England by 18: Even though it is a warm-up match, England have shown genuine desire to get as much as possible out of these matches, and Friday night should be no different. For a number of players, this will be their final chance to push for a place in the best XV before the World Cup, and it is an opportunity not to be wasted.

Key Points

• England 37-0 Italy
• Three Farrell penalties gives England an early lead
• Youngs bags opening try after 44 minutes
• Marchant scores his first international try to extend lead
• Genge adds third midway through second half
• Watson dances over late on to complete rout

[6 September 2019 19:50 · Jack de Menezes]

3 mins: Hayward is nearly undone by the bounce and May takes Youngs' box-kick first, but the Italian full-back recovers to make the try-saving tackle. England attack right and quickly through Watson after Italy turned the ball over and kicked clear, but as he is tackled Canna goes well off his feet and that's an obvious penalty to England.

Farrell will go for goal.

[6 September 2019 19:50 · Jack de Menezes]

5 mins: Farrell's effort is good and England lead! 3-0

[6 September 2019 19:53 · Jack de Menezes]

7 mins: England try to go quickly from a deep penalty as Youngs taps and goes, and he goes right through George to Watson. Again the Bath full-back is shackled before he can break away, and as England come back left Italy are able to get over the ball and turn ot over, before England give away a penalty for going off the feet and Italy clear.

[6 September 2019 19:58 · Jack de Menezes]

10 mins: Canna breaks free! Neat play puts the fly-half through a gap and Padovani takes it on to within five metres of the line. Watson does well to stop the attack and England have their defensive line sorted, and the big tackle comes in from Tom Curry to push Italy back. Cole tries to come through the ruck and it disrupts the ball heavily, slowing it down, and when Italy try to go wide they don't have the numbers there to do anything with possession. They come back right and good footwork from Bisegni gives Benvenuti some space out wide, and his own sidestep gives him a chance to beat May and go for the line - only for the England wing to rip the ball from his grasp as he goes to ground it.

A huge let-off for England.

[6 September 2019 20:01 · Jack de Menezes]

13 mins: England get the pressure-relieving penalty at the scrum as Italy collapse, and Farrell is able to kick to touch on a tight angle to about 30m out.

[6 September 2019 20:06 · Jack de Menezes]

16 mins: McConnochie takes a lovely catch off a Braley box-kick and it gets England onto the front foot. Farrell comes wide to Francis, who floats a miss-pass out to May, and the wing cuts in and breaks the first two tackles before offloading to George and then Watson, England reset and Wilson breaks through the middle, but as Farrell tries to play a short pop to Vunipola he only succeeds in putting it into the hands of Benvenuti, and Hayward is able to send a long clearing kick into touch on the England 10m line.

A few running repairs are needed as Marler is slow to his feet and Hayward gets treatment.

[6 September 2019 20:07 · Jack de Menezes]

18 mins: May does well to take a high kick from Youngs, and when England win an offside penalty advantage, Farrell puts another high kick up for the wing to compete for. I say compete, but he faces no challenge whatsoever as Italy simply let May have it, and when he's wrapped up afterwards referee Ben O'Keefe comes back for the penalty.

Farrell will go for goal again.

[6 September 2019 20:09 · Jack de Menezes]

20 mins: Farrell makes no mistake with the kick and he doubles the lead for the hosts. 6-0

[6 September 2019 20:12 · Jack de Menezes]

23 mins: Farrell tries a no-look offload to Youngs on the wraparound, but he misses the target and Youngs knocks the ball on into Italian hands. Italy try to counter, and come up with nothing as the ball is spilt immediately, so we come back for the scrum in centre-field near halfway.

[6 September 2019 20:14 · Jack de Menezes]

25 mins: Italy nearly catch England out with Farrell and Francis out defending on the wing. The former allows a high cross-field kick to bounce, but it falls kindly for the latter and he commits Bellini before offloading to Farrell. The captain tries to chip down the line, but puts the ball straight into touch and lets out a scream in frustration as a result.