SEVEN-TRY ENGLAND GIVEN A LICENCE TO THRILL

Fisherman’s son Simmonds announced himself as a rising star with 23 TACKLES and TWO TRIES as England thrash Italy hook, line and sinker to set up exciting Wales showdown

FISHERMAN’S son Sam Simmonds netted two tries to cap a dream Six Nations debut for England.

Watched by 007 Daniel Craig, the rookie No.8 was given a licence to thrill by Eddie Jones at the Stadio Olimpico.

His response catapulted England to the top of the table and set up a Twickenham showdown with Wales on Saturday.

Simmonds made a gamehigh 23 tackles to put the holders into a winning position before switching from defence to attack to kill off Conor O’Shea’s Azzurri with a try double. Not bad for a player Jones had thought too small to play No.8 and playing junior rugby for Cornish Pirates this time last year.

“Life’s full of contradictions and he’s one of them,” beamed the Aussie, after the Exeter forward filled the sizeable void left by injured duo Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes. a great discovery for us. He’s got gas, he does all our speed work with the backs and is a completely humble boy.”

Which is what you might expect from someone who sleeps in the same bedroom at home he has occupied since he was 13 – a 23-year-old who had not even made his Premiership debut a year ago.

“He is a bit of a freak, isn’t he?” added club-mate Jack Nowell. “Up there with one of the quickest I have played with. He has got a backside, so that’s where the power comes from.”

Simmonds helped offset Red Rose disappointment at the loss of Ben Youngs with knee ligament damage on the day he overtook Matt Dawson’s record of most starts for an England scrumhalf. Youngs was stretchered off after 10 minutes and ruled out of the Wales clash. It is likely to be a far longer lay-off and Richard Wigglesworth is expected to be called up.

Jones put a brave face on it after his 23rd win in 24 matches in charge. He dwelt neither on the loss of Youngs nor the fairly ordinary defensive display which al“He’s lowed Italy to score two tries and stay in contention for an hour. He focused instead on seven-try England’s scrum performance – the best, he said, since he took charge. On the two tries notched inside 12 minutes by Anthony Watson, who he again likened to a Maserati. And on the midfield combination of George Ford and 16-point Owen Farrell, who pulled the strings throughout. Ford looped around Farrell for both Watson’s scores and the playmaking duo finished the game with tries of their own. But nobody was getting carried away. Wales will be a different proposition – and England know it.