Seven-try England maintain Six Nations title hopes with emphatic win over Italy

Six weeks ago England would definitely have settled for their current position, still mathematically in the hunt for the Six Nations title this season. France may now be strong favourites to lift the trophy on Satur­day night but three consecutive home wins with a total of 12 tries scored have finally offered tangible evidence of red rose improvement after an often frustrating winter.

In isolation there was nothing particularly special about this seven-try victory against an outgunned Italy team on a beautiful Sunday afternoon but inside the camp it will be seized upon as further proof that England are ­genuinely on track for the sunlit uplands. Another bonus‑point victory against Wales in Cardiff will be needed to put pressure on Les Bleus when they face Scotland in Paris later the same day but this was the first time in 32 Tests under Steve ­Borthwick that England have registered more than 40 points against tier-one opponents.

England will also be pleased with the way they responded to the loss of Ollie Lawrence with an ­achilles injury after eight minutes. It could have thrown them off balance tactically but a composed performance from the fly‑half Fin Smith and some sharp finishing, not least from Ollie ­Sleightholme, who scored a brace of tries, ultimately left the visitors chasing shadows.

It was also a decent day for Ollie Chessum, the player of the match, as well as Marcus Smith, who was propelled into the fray ahead of schedule after Lawrence’s abrupt departure. This has been an up-and-down season for the Harlequins ­playmaker but here was a fruitful outing, ­yielding a nice try and a healthy all‑round contribution. That said, Fin Smith’s grip on the No 10 jersey ­tightens by the week and the ­increasing number of Northampton players in the backline is assisting England’s cohesion.

A basking audience also enjoyed the hosts’ more positive intent after the self-confessed “ugly” win against Scotland. Just as there was less in the way of painful box‑kicking so the weather was gloriously different. Gone were the rain that flushed France away last month and the persistent chill of recent weeks. It was so warm you half expected Ben Stokes to lead out a zinc-creamed England cricket side. Instead there was Jamie George on the occasion of his well-deserved 100th England cap.

It felt as near as the old tournament will come to being staged in high summer and inevitably made for a free-flowing contest from the outset. One little fumble in contact by the Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney after just three minutes was all it took to spark a sweeping counterattack which ended with a delighted Tom Willis stretching out to score 70 metres upfield.

The exit of Lawrence, though, did temporarily disrupt English rhythm, forcing Elliot Daly to outside-centre and prompting an excited roar from the crowd at Smith’s early deployment at full-back. Italy took swift advantage of the reshuffle, Monty Ioane chipping the ball into plenty of space close to the English line and inviting Ange Capuozzo to complete a deft score.

View image in fullscreen Marcus Smith shows his delight after scoring England’s fourth try. Photograph: Dan Mullan/RFU/The RFU Collection/Getty Images

Had Paolo Garbisi not missed an eminently kickable penalty Italy would have been ahead and it was a relief for England supporters when a well-judged Daly grubber sat up perfectly for Tommy Freeman to score in the right corner. The Azzurri, though, were not in the least deflated and were back level again with half an hour gone.

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Capuozzo is a smart and elusive player and he showed both qualities to leave George for dead in midfield and then find the supporting Ross Vintcent. The Exeter Chief is among the quickest back-row forwards in the Premiership and duly burned off the cover to complete a cracking try.

If only Italy were as connected defensively as they are going forward. With advantage already being played England had plenty of time and space in which to swing the ball left and Sleightholme dived over in the corner for his first try of the game. A Garbisi penalty did narrow the half‑time margin to four points but surely England would tighten the screw in the final 40 minutes?

Sure enough, they did so without delay, albeit after an early scare when Italy really should have scored in the left corner. Excellent footwork from Will Stuart and an offload from Tom Curry put Marcus Smith away for a scampering try and three minutes later Curry scored himself to take England clear on the scoreboard.

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After that it was a question of whether England could get anywhere near the 73 points scored by France against the Azzurri in round three. George put a swivelling Sleightholme over for another well-taken try, the winger’s sixth in eight Tests, and Fin Smith, yet again, drilled over the conversion as if it were the easiest skill in the world. Tommaso Menoncello grabbed a 70th‑minute consolation for the visitors but a last-gasp Ben Earl try ensured the Italian job – no cliffhanger this one – was comprehensively completed.

England: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence (M Smith, 8), Dingwall (Hill, 73), Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell (Van Poortvliet, 63); Genge (Baxter, 59), George (Cowan-Dickie, 54), Stuart (Hayes, 59), Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, Earl (Cunningham-South, 50), T Willis (B Curry, 46).

Tries: T Willis, Freeman, Sleighthome 2, M Smith, T Curry, Earl. Cons: F Smith 6.

Italy: Capuozzo (Allan, 69); Ioane, Brex, Menoncello, Gallagher (Capuozzo, 76); P Garbisi, Varney (Page-Relo, 55); Fischetti (Spagnolo, 59), Nicotera (Lucchesi, 50), Riccioni (Ferrari, 47), N Cannone (Favretto, 68), Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (capt; Zuliani, 50) Vintcent (L Cannone, 50).

Tries: Capuozzo, Vintcent, Menoncello. Cons: Garbisi 3. Pen: Garbisi.

Referee: A Brace (Ireland). Att: 82,000.

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