Italy v England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction from Six Nations as England hold on to beat Azzurri
Italy 24-27 England: Steve Borthwick’s England come from behind and then hold on to edge out a fiesty Azzurri side in Rome
England recovered from a scruffy start and a 17-8 deficit to beat Italy 27-24 in their opening Six Nations game in Rome, ending a run of four successive opening-round defeats in the championship.
Italy flew out of the blocks with a Tommaso Allan penalty and a well-created try for Alessandro Garbisi and though Elliot Daly hit back for England, their new-look side looked disorganised, not least when Allan flew through for the hosts’ second try.
Two George Ford penalties closed the gap to 17-14 at half-time, somewhat flattering for England, but they took control in the second period, starting when scrum half Alex Mitchell showed great determination to claim their second try.
Ford’s boot stretched the lead and more aggressive defence kept Italy at bay until Monty Ioane broke through for a converted try in added time to earn Italy a losing bonus point.
Relive all the action from Rome below.You can get all the latest Six Nations odds and tips here.
TRY! Italy 10-0 England (Alessandro Garbisi 12’)
WOW! It’s been coming and Italy score the first try through Alessandro Garbisi!
They cut England to ribbons as an offload finds Cannone to maraud through, he flicks the ball off the deck when tackled on the 22 and Garbisi is in support. It bounces off his leg but he collects and runs under the sticks for the score! England questioning if it was a knock-on but no dice.
Simple conversion for Allan and it’s 10-0. What a start!
Italy 3-0 England
11 mins: Good disruption from Cannone who forces Mitchell to fumble as he tries to spread the ball from the base of a ruck. England’s back row need to take control of these breakdowns a bit more.
Italy 3-0 England
10 mins: Good start from Italy - new coach Gonzalo Quesada will be pleased. They look well-drilled. They nearly beat France in Round 1 last year, remember, so they often start the Six Nations fairly well.
A reset of the first scrum and second-time round Italy hold firm. Solid set-piece. The Azzurri flick the ball wide to the right and then a cross-kick from Garbisi almost finds Ioane in space on the left touchline but Steward gets across to tackle him into touch. Nice idea.
Italy 3-0 England
8 mins: Better from Itoje as he pinches the lineout and he then tidies up a loose ball at the breakdown very nicely. Brex deals with a Ford spiral very nicely - holds on in the face of English pressure.
We’ll have our first scrum, on halfway, as Will Stuart knocks on in contact. England will expect to dominate at scrum-time with their bulk.
Italy 3-0 England
6 mins: Yet another penalty against England from the kick-off - looks like Itoje again, caught with his hands on the floor. Italy can clear their lines and the visitors need to tidy up their discipline.
PENALTY! Italy 3-0 England (Tommaso Allan 5’)
Flat-line from Italy with Menoncello just behind who then targets Ford and gets over the gain-line. Itoje strays offside to get in Alessandro Garbisi’s eye-line and it’s a penalty to the Azzurri.
Tommaso Allan on kicking duty, fairly central from 30 metres and he thumps the ball between the posts. Good kick and Italy strike first
Italy 0-0 England
4 mins: Tough bounce right in front of Daly as Garbisi pokes a grubber kick through but he holds on and Mitchell can box-kick clear towards halfway.
Good defensive set from England. New defence coach Felix Jones will be pleased with that - water-tight to stop any Italian surges.
Italy 0-0 England
2 mins: First touch for debutant Ethan Roots at the lineout. Cleanly taken. England run phases around halfway but get pinged for holding on at the breakdown. big tackle from Ruzza on Chessum
Early celebrations from the Italians - good defence and they have a platform with the lineout on the England 22.
KICK-OFF! Italy 0-0 England
And we’re underway! Garbisi boots the ball into the air, claimed by Itoje and Lucchesi immediately gives away a penalty. England have an early lineout in Italian territory
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