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:
England 7-7 Italy, 19 mins
Mitchell dances left, then right before popping to Earl for the carry. England running out of space down the right but Freeman tries to get his hands free in the tackle to make the pass.
Gallagher, who is facing backwards, deliberately knocks it down and Italy clear their lines out of the 22. Another chance gone begging for the hosts
England 7-7 Italy, 17 mins
England respond well, win a penalty and kick to the corner. Great attacking opportunity. HEAVE is the cry from the crowd as they set up the maul.
Five metres from the line now.
TRY! England 7-7 Italy (Ange Capuozzo, 15 mins)
Well, well, well! Italy strike with more or less their first attack!
The lineout is good and they go all the way to the right wing where Ioane flicks a stunning chipped kick over the defensive line, Ange Capuozzo is at full tilt and the ball bounces up perfectly for the full back to collect and dive over for the try. Gorgeous score.
Garbisi nails the conversion and we’re level at the Allianz. England made to pay for not converting their dominance into more points.
England 7-0 Italy, 14 mins
Italy prop Marco Riccioni receives treatment but he’s good to continue. Italian lineout is solid and Varney puts up a box-kick that pins Sleightholme on the touchline and he does well to stay in play and flick a behind the back pass!n Very Dupont-esque...
The attack breaks down when a kick-pass bounces into touch.
England 7-0 Italy, 13 mins
Mitchell sends up a high bomb to test Capuozzo and he’s equal to it. Sleightholme is then equally effective under the return kick and sets up England in Italian territory.
Genge with a carry in the tight before Dingwall dinks a kick through that bounces into touch and ensures a defensive Italian lineout. All the play is in Italy’s half, and largely their 22, so far. A good start by Borthwick’s men.
England 7-0 Italy, 10 mins
The scrum is solid and England run three straight crash balls into the guts of the Italian defence. The Azzurri nab the turnover though when Fin Smith has the ball stripped in contact and they gleefully clear towards halfway
Ollie Lawrence injury a significant blow
A real blow, that, for England with Ollie Lawrence carted off. The hosts have begun with real fizz and purpose in attack, with the centre providing a focal point.
On comes Marcus Smith to a huge roar, having also got the strongest reaction when his name was read out ahead of kick off - Elliot Daly has gone to outside centre, leaving England without the same carrying punch. Might we see more of Tommy Freeman roaming off his wing after a couple of good early moments down the touchline?
England 7-0 Italy, 9 mins
An early blow for England though as Lawrence has gone down in a lot of pain. The cart comes on and he’s taken off.
After all the controversy around Marcus Smith being dropped, he’s on after nine minutes! He’ll go to full back and Daly comes into the centres alongside Dingwall.
England with the five-metre scrum
England 7-0 Italy, 8 mins
This is the rugby England want to play! From the lineout they go all the way across the field, a gorgeous looped pass over the top from Daly on the wraparound finds Freeman and he powers to within a couple of metres of the Italian line.
The Azzurri defence holds firm and holds them up in the in-goal area.
England 7-0 Italy, 7 mins
That England try all came from Daly running a loose ball in his own 22, rather than kicking. Exactly the sort of brave, ambitious rugby Borthwick has been urging his side to play.
First scrum of the day in midfield. England put-in and it’s solid. In fact, England get a push on and win the scrum penalty.
Advantage played and Lawrence with a powerful carry to the 22 but we’re back for the penalty.
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