LIVE: England vs Italy

Flyhalf Fin Smith kicked 12 points as England cruised to a convincing Six Nations win against Italy at Twickenham on Sunday.

In hooker Jamie George’s 100th Test, Smith converted six of England’s seven tries in a 47-24 result that featured three tries from Italy.

Wingers Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme (2) accounted for three of those England tries, while loose forwards  Tom Curry, Tom Willis and Ben Earl each crossed once and Marcus Smith added his name to the scoresheet.

For Italy, Bishops old boy Ross Vintcent, fullback Ange Capuozzo and centre Tommaso Menoncello dotted down.

The result moved England into second place on the standings, one behind leaders France and one clear of third-placed Ireland, while Italy are fifth. In the final round, England travel to Cardiff to battle Wales, while Italy host Ireland.

England will require Scotland to do them a favour against France in Paris to have any chance of winning the title, but they now have an outside chance of being crowned Six Nations champions for the first time since 2020.

England ended an open first half where they outscored Italy three tries to two narrowly ahead at 21-17. But against an Italy defence that had conceded 11 tries — the most by one side in a Six Nations match — during a 73-24 thrashing by France in Rome last time out, they ran in four more after the break.

Marcus Smith secured the four-try bonus point before Curry went over and Sleightholme completed a double, with Earl crossing with the final act of the game.

Fin Smith’s only missed goal-kick came following Earl’s score when England had long since won the game.

Defeat extended Italy’s woeful record against England, with the Azzurri now having lost all of their 32 Tests against the Red Rose brigade.

Marcus Smith was on the bench only to come on in the ninth minute when centre Ollie Lawrence went off injured after catching his foot awkwardly in the turf.

It took England just three minutes to open the scoring when, following a break by Freeman, No 8 Willis stretched over the line.

But as England regrouped following Lawrence’s injury, it was Italy who scored next.

Paolo Garbisi chipped the ball over a couple of England defenders for Juan Ignacio Brex to collect.

Monty Ioane produced another chip over the cover, with onrushing full-back Ange Capuozzo regathering cleanly on the bounce for a 13th-minute try that flyhalf Garbisi converted to tie things up at 7-7.

But after Garbisi missed a simple penalty, a superbly weighted grubber from Elliot Daly, who moved to midfield from fullback following Lawrence’s injury, allowed the sprinting Freeman to score a try.

But Italy hit back just four minutes later.

They moved the ball quickly off the top of a line-out, with Capuozzo gliding through the England defence before finding Ross Vintcent, with the No 8 outsprinting the cover for a converted try.

England, with lock Ollie Chessum impressing up front, however, had their third try when, after scrumhalf Alex Mitchell’s quick tap penalty, Marcus Smith’s long cut-out pass sent wing Sleightholme in at the corner.

Fin Smith, one of five Northampton backs in the starting side along with Mitchell, Freeman, Sleightholme and recalled centre Fraser Dingwall, maintained  his 100 percent record from the kicking tee and England were 21-14 ahead.

But Italy turned round just four points behind at the break following a successful Garbisi penalty.

The second half was just three minutes old though when Curry found fans’ favourite Marcus Smith, with the Harlequins stand-off stepping his way forward before surging clear.

Curry then turned finisher in the 49th minute when the Sale flanker powered over for England’s fifth try.

And three minutes later, a now rampant England led 42-17 when George found Sleightholme with an offload, and the wing dived over to score his second try of the match.

Menoncello reduced Italy’s deficit with a try 10 minutes from time, but that was little consolation for an Azzurri side who finish the Six Nations at home to an Ireland side desperate to atone for their defeat by France.

© Agence France-Presse