England vs Italy LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations as England seal big win to stay in title hunt
England 47-24 Italy: A superb attacking display from Steve Borthwick’s side kept their title hopes alive heading into the final weekend
England cut loose to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive with a seven-try, 49-24 win over a hapless Italy.
Narrow victories over France and Scotland served as overdue tight successes for Steve Borthwick’s side, though they themselves have conceded that they had been yet to produce their best in this campaign. This, then, felt like a significant step forward as the hosts showed far more attacking ambition, eventually putting Italy to the sword after a helter-skelter first half.
Borthwick had left Marcus Smith on the bench and dropped Henry Slade entirely for the visit of the Azzurri, but were forced into an early backline reshuffle after injury to Ollie Lawrence. Smith’s arrival and a star performance from Elliot Daly, moved to outside centre, opened up England’s attacking game, allowing them to pile up the points as the Azzurri suffered another damaging day. The shipping of 11 tries in Rome against France punctured the optimism that had surrounded Gonzalo Quesada’s squad and this felt like another significant step back.
Re-live all of the actionn from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in our live blog below:
TRY! England 47-24 Italy (Ben Earl, 80 mins)
And England do finish with a flourish! Ioane is tackled on his own 22 and Ben Curry steals the ball cleanly. He runs left, a little offload to back row/centre Ben Earl and he has just enough pace to reach the line.
Ah, that’s a shame! Fin Smith’s perfect record from the tee is spoilt at the last as his touchline conversion is just wide.
England 42-24 Italy, 79 mins
Cowan-Dickie’s throw is well taken by Chessum who gets contacted in the air, so it’s another England penalty and back to the corner again.
This time the maul is set up and Cowan-Dickie breaks off the side to within a couple of metres. But Italy win the turnover penalty as Baxter seals off.
England 42-24 Italy, 78 mins
Bodies strewn about the pitch now as Itoje receives treatment but is back on his feet. However, it’s a bit more serious for Gallagher who woozily trudges off the pitch. Capuozzo back on for the final couple of minutes.
England are trying to build from a scrum near halfway and they earn the penalty as the Azzurri front row splinters. Fin Smith kicks them into the 22 - a final score to see this game out?
England 42-24 Italy, 75 mins
Ben Earl to inside centre? Dingwall off and Ted Hill on as a blood replacement, so presumably Earl will be playing 12 now. It worked for France yesterday....
Good attacking position for Italy but they turn it over, England then wina scrum penalty and will try to build from halfway
TRY! England 42-24 Italy (Tommaso Menoncello, 72 mins)
Just as I say that, England’s defence goes to sleep!
Zuliani is stopped but not brought to the ground, he spins out of contact, hands off a defender and gets within a metre of the line.
A quick pass from the ruck to Tommaso Menoncello also catches England flat-footed and he trots in. Frustrating for the hosts.
Easy conversion added and Italy are one try from the bonus point now.
England 42-17 Italy, 71 mins
Turnovers from both teams off their respective lineouts but a lovely flicked offload out of the back of Daly’s hand to the supporting Chessum continues his strong day, Surely a man of that match contender, the England full back (although he moved to centre nine minutes in)?
This match is definitely petering out though.
England 42-17 Italy, 68 mins
England get the push on at the scrum and belt the ball clear into the Italian half. Capuozzo then penalised for holding on as he returns the kick.
England suddenly in the Italian 22 for the lineout - they’ve flipped the field completely in about 30 seconds.
The maul is stopped by Italy, the ball flies loose and Zuliani is able to hack clear.
England 42-17 Italy, 67 minutes
A really scrappy period with both sides making plenty of changes and a few legs beginning to tire. The Italian job feels to be done for England, but they should not switch off - there is a chance to further enhance their points difference and really produce a statement result in this final 15 minutes.
England 42-17 Italy, 66 mins
Stern words at the scrum from referee Andrew Brace. He wants both front rows to do better - we’ve definitely entered a phase of resets recently.
A crashing run by Menoncello livens things up slightly and Italy win the penalty for England playing the ball on the ground. They go to the corner...
Lienout is clean and it’s lovely hands but the little inside flick from Garbisi to Gallagher is narrowly forward. The chance goes
England 42-17 Italy, 64 mins
The Mexican wave has started at the Allianz Stadium which is never a good sign...
Our first reset scrum of the day - what an auspicious moment... But Sleightholme then knocks on in contact as he tried to get his hands free to offload to Cunningham-South. Scrappy, scrappy stuff
Mitchell off for England with Jack van Poortvliet on at scrum half.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments