England (21) 47
Tries: Willis, Freeman, Sleightholme (2), M Smith, T Curry, Earl Cons: F Smith (6)
Italy (17) 24
Tries: Capuozzo, Vintcent, Menoncello Con: P Garbisi (3) Pen: P Garbisi
England are best placed to take advantage of any final-day slip-up by Six Nations leaders France after they moved up to second in the Six Nations table with a seven-try victory over Italy at Allianz Stadium.
Wing Ollie Sleightholme crossed twice in an ultimately comfortable victory, but the hosts were made to sweat early on with Italy scoring two superb tries to stay within four points at half-time.
However, two scores in two minutes early in the second half, from replacement Marcus Smith and flanker Tom Curry, broke the visitors’ resistance and allowed England to see out the match in unusual comfort after a series of home cliff-hangers.
Tommaso Menoncello’s angled run repaired some of the damage, but was never going to switch the course of the contest.
The crowd indulged in long, loud renditions of Swing Low Sweet Chariot and generous applause for excellent visiting full-back Ange Capuozzo, before Ben Earl charged in on the final play to cap victory.
However, England will be without centre Ollie Lawrence for their final-round trip to Cardiff after he was carried off with a serious-looking Achilles tendon injury, which could also affect his chances of joining this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour.
England will take on Wales in the second match of ‘super’ Saturday on 15 March, kicking off at 16:45 GMT at the Principality Stadium. They are one point behind France, who play Scotland in Paris later in the day, but 82 worse off in points difference.
That mammoth discrepancy means, barring an extraordinary scoreline in Cardiff, France would be able to wrap up the title with any sort of win over Scotland.
England eventually extinguish Italian flair
Italy’s thrilling counter-attacks briefly had England wobbling
Any pre-match thoughts of making significant inroads into France’s points difference advantage was pushed from Twickenham’s minds in the first half as the visitors shot back with accuracy and flair.
Tom Willis had battered over for the fastest try of the championship in a little over three minutes, while Elliot Daly – picked ahead of Smith at 15 – claimed well in the air and hit some good lines and the front row emerged from the first scrum with a penalty.
There was not to be a replica of France’s 11-try round-three rout of the visitors, though.
Italy full-back Capuozzo was the beneficiary for their first try as clever kicks ahead by Paolo Garbisi and Monty Ioane found space and pulled England’s defence out of shape.
Capuozzo later turned creator, thrillingly slicing through England with a scalpel-sharp change of direction to open up a route for Exeter’s Ross Vintcent to canter over.
England traded blow for blow with a cute Daly grubber, putting Tommy Freeman into the corner before good work from Ollie Chessum down one wing created space for Sleightholme to dive in the opposite corner.
But, with Garbisi kicking a penalty to cut the hosts’ lead to four points and Lawrence – one of England’s strongest performers so far this year – having been carried off, the hosts knew they were deep in a fight at the break.
Borthwick pleased with scoring ‘acceleration’ after half-time
George ‘thankful’ for ‘very special day’
What they said
England head coach Steve Borthwick told BBC Sport: “We are pleased with plenty of those scores.
“The injury to Ollie Lawrence resulted in an reorganisation of the backline but I thought the players managed that really well. It looks like he injured his Achilles but we don’t know to what extent.
“The way the team accelerated the scoreline was really good. This Italian side is really well coached and their battle at the breakdown is fierce. When we got quick ball and the contact area right, we took our opportunities.
“The team is progressing and developing. It is a young side and it adapted really well.”
England hooker Jamie George on winning his 100th cap: “I am very thankful to everyone who has made it very special.
“My mum is on my mind all the time. She would have loved being here and will be looking down very proud today. It is an emotional day. I am happy with the people who are here but do miss the one who isn’t.
“After the Ireland game I was just desperate to be out there, it reminded me how much I love playing for this team. I’ve had three amazing games.
“How can you not love it when Allianz Stadium is like this?”
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,
Sleightholme has six tries in eight England appearances
Line-ups
England: Daly, Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, Earl, T Willis.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, T Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith
Italy: Capuozzo, Ioane, Brex, Menoncello, Gallagher; P Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Riccioni, N Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (capt) Vintcent
Replacements: Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Ferrari, Favretto, Zuliani, L Cannone, Page-Relo, Allan
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
