England 47 Italy 24: Red Rose keep Six Nations hopes alive in chaotic second half with three tries in 13 minutes
ENGLAND turned on the second-half power to keep their Six Nations hopes alive.
Three tries in the space of 13 minutes at the start of the second period transformed the interval nerves into Allianz Stadium roars as Ben Earl scored the seventh in added time.
And while the Red Rose need to win in Wales and France to slip up against Scotland in Paris next week to steal the crown for the first time since 2020, they will travel to Cardiff with something on the line.
All smiles in the sunshine at the end but Steve Borthwick would have been an anxious man after a helter skelter first half in which Tom Willis, Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme’s scores were only enough for a four point advantage.
It was a different story after the restart, quickfire tries from Marcus Smith, Tom Curry and Sleightholme putting England clear, with Fin Smith immaculate off the tee.
In the end, it was comfortable. Yet the first half summed up England’s entire campaign – a mixture of the glorious and the comical.
On the plus side were the three tries they scored, starting in the fourth minute when quick ball saw Freeman rampaging down the right, carried on by Curry, before Willis took Alex Mitchell’s pass to stretch out over the line.
But the counterpoint was the way Italy, despite so little possession, sliced through them twice themselves.
Their opener saw England strung out in the defensive line, leaving a gaping hole which was exploited by winger Monty Ioane’s kick, gathered by full-back Ange Capuozzo.
Back came England with a kick-inspired try of their own.
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Elliot Daly – who moved to centre when Marcus Smith came on for the injured Ollie Lawrence after just nine minutes – spotted the space for Freeman to grasp and take advantage.
Yet Italy were level again as they ran a quick line out from deep in their own territory, Capuozzo slicing through the first line of white shirts before Exeter No8 Ross Vintcent powered past the remainder.
A poor score to concede, although back came England, sucking in the forwards before spreading wide, with Smith feeding Sleightholme.
The bonus point score followed soon after the restart, Smith finishing off the hard grunt from Curry before the Northampton fly-half continued his 100 per cent record.
And when starter Curry – now joined in the back row by his brother Ben – burrowed over from a yard, England were suddenly 18 points to the good within seven minutes of the half beginning.
Now the shackles were off, England in command.
Former skipper Jamie George was held just short of the line as he looked to mark his 100th cap in the grand manner, but slipped to Sleightholme, with Smith nailing his sixth.
Game over as a contest, although Menoncello scored a third for Italy.
Then, on the final play, Earl – on the field for the second time – took advantage of a loose ball, Smith finally missing.
For England, it is about more tries next week. And a little help from the Scots.