The Northampton Saints’ flanker’s treble added to tries by Finn Carnduff and Josh Bellamy, with Valerio Siciliano going over for Italy’s sole score.

Mark Mapletoft’s side will now look to make it two wins from two against Wales at Bath’s Recreation Ground next Friday.

The visitors were quick to apply pressure in Treviso, camping themselves deep in Italian territory early on, and were rewarded when Kerr slotted a penalty over from straight in front.

Italy responded and came close to the opening try of the night when a crossfield kick found Marco Scalabrin, who spilled the ball in the in-goal area.

Two Martino Pucciarello penalties gave the hosts a 6-3 lead but England were quickly back in front when Ben Redshaw made an incisive break and popped inside to give Pollock a straightforward run in under the posts.

The back-rower crossed again on 34 minutes, beating one defender with a show-and-go before powering through the tackle of Lorenzo Casilio, and there was still time for a third try with the final action of the first half as quick hands released captain Carnduff to go over in the corner.

Pollock was the standout statistically in the opening 40 minutes, with 84 metres made from his nine carries and five defenders beaten.

And after withstanding Italian pressure in the opening stages of the second period, Pollock turned from scorer to provider with a piece of quick thinking.

He took a quick tap and go from a penalty inside the hosts’ 22 before freeing replacement Bellamy for the bonus point score, Rory Taylor this time adding the extras.

Italy reduced the deficit courtesy of a replacement of their own, hooker Siciliano profiting from a rolling maul with 12 minutes left on the clock.

But fittingly, the final word went to Pollock, who completed a memorable evening by bursting through a gap following an England lineout to put the seal on an impressive away triumph.