England record bonus-point win over Italy

13 Feb 2022 | 4 min |

England record bonus-point win over Italy

England got their Guinness Six Nations championship back on track thanks to a 33-0 win over Italy in Rome.

Both sides set a frantic pace to the Test at Stadio Olimpico, but it was England that struck first, on the 10-minute mark.

On what was their first meaningful visit inside the Azzurri 22, Harry Randall provided quick ball to Marcus Smith, who shipped it to Max Malins. The winger rounded Federico Mori, before squaring up the final defender and redistributing to Smith, who went over for a simple score.

Jamie George doubled the visitor's lead nine minutes later, surging over from close range after a series of strong carries from England's forwards, and just like his first conversion, Smith's second was successful, making it 0-14.

Maro Itoje had a try disallowed as half hour passed, lock Nick Isiekwe was deemed to have obstructed an Italian counter maul on England's attacking lineout, but George crossed for his second on the stroke of half time and Smith's extras made it 0-21 at the break.

England's dominance at the half way stage was clear to see, making 55 more carries, 252 more metres and beating 11 more defenders than the hosts.

And they picked up where they left off at the resumption of the Test, as Elliot Daly crossed for a bonus-point fourth try in the 44th minute. It was a Smith assisted score, though the fly half was unable to convert the effort.

Ben Youngs replaced Randall to earn his 114th Test cap, equalling Jason Leonard as England Men's all-time record cap holder, and Ollie Chessum came on to make his first.

Eddie Jones' men notched up their fifth try courtesy of prop Kyle Sinckler, with Smith adding an eighth point from the boot, to make it 0-33.

And despite late spirited Italian attack, the men in blue were unable to penetrate England's staunch defence, as they saw the game out, keeping Italy scoreless.

Teams

England

1. Ellis Genge (VC), 2. Jamie George, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Charlie Ewels, 5. Nick Isiekwe, 6. Maro Itoje, 7. Tom Curry (C), 8. Alex Dombrandt, 9. Harry Randall, 10. Marcus Smith, 11. Jack Nowell, 12. Henry Slade (VC), 13. Joe Marchant, 14. Max Malins, 15. Freddie Steward.

Finishers

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (VC), 17. Joe Marler, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Ollie Chessum, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Ben Youngs, 22. George Ford, 23. Elliot Daly.

Italy

1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3. Pietro Ceccarelli, 4. Niccolo Cannone, 5. Federico Ruzza, 6. Abraham Steyn, 7. Michele Lamaro (C), 8. Toa Halafihi, 9. Stephen Varney, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 11. Montanna Ioane, 12. Marco Zanon, 13. Ignacio Brex, 14. Federico Mori, 15. Edoardo Padovani.

Replacements

16. Epalahame Favia, 17. Cherif Traore, 18. Tiziano Pasquali, 19. David Sisi, 20. Sebastian Negri, 21. Giovanni Pettinelli, 22. Alessandro Fusco, 23. Leonardo Marin.