England seal bonus-point win over Italy
England head into the final round of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations Championship with a chance of winning the tournament after sealing a bonus-point 57-14 victory over Italy at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.
Power and pace
England had three tries inside 20 minutes in an opening quarter of the game that showed off all their power and pace. Joe Cokanasiga was an early feature of that with a piece of sublime skill, also winning a penalty soon after when forcing Italy to not release at a ruck.
A break down the left wing and barrelling crash ball charge signalled England’s intent to get the winger in the game as quickly as possible and it soon started to pay dividends with Italy’s defence creaking. The opening try came in trademark forward fashion though as hooker George bundled over off the back of a driving maul for a first try inside 10 minutes.
To their credit Italy responded well to the early disappointment with Allan jinking over on their left wing after the visitors shifted the ball out wide to outflank England.
However, England soon asserted their authority on the game. Daly seared through midfield before fixing the final Italy defender and releasing May on the left wing to fly over for a thirteenth try in 14 Tests, and moments later there was more for the Twickenham crowd to cheer.
Tuilagi bounced off a tackle and powered his way through another as he arched his way to the try line and a third England try.
Farrell converted all three as well and a penalty and the bonus point was secured just after the half hour mark with Shields finishing off an England team move that started in their own half - Tuilagi again central in creating space.
In kicking those points Farrell passed 800 Test points for England and the British & Irish Lions, becoming the second Englishman after Jonny Wilkinson (1246) to achieve that feat.
Dan's delight
Tuilagi had a second with England exploiting an overlap on the right wing with Italy crossing through Morisi.
Kruis finished off his own charge down which replacement Ford converted and a seventh England try arrived with Robson crossing for a first international score in his second Test.
Shields had a second after another charge down to end the game on a high and finish the job for England.
It completed a trio of bonus-point wins for England's three sides with the Red Roses and men's U20s also gaining victories over Italy at the weekend.
England have now won all 20 of their clashes with Italy in the Six Nations and remain the only side the Azzurri are yet to taste victory against in the tournament.
Jones' side next host Scotland in the Calcutta Cup with their Six Nations hopes still alive.
England team: Daly, Cokanasiga, Tuilagi, Te'o, May, Farrell (capt), Youngs; Genge, George, Sinckler, Launchbury, Kruis, Shields, Curry, Vunipola.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Moon, Cole, Hughes, Wilson, Robson, Ford, Slade.
