How they stand WHAT IS THE POINT OF ITALY?
England’s eight-try demolition makes perfect case for relegation
IF the Six Nations needed an advert for promotion and relegation, this was it. The sight of bruised and bandaged Italians trudging off after their 21st straight defeat painted a perfect picture of the broken system.
The result was never in doubt. England secured the bonus-point try inside 32 minutes, leaving the opposition defence looking like a plate of squashed Italian tomatoes.
Another year, another hiding. Another sorry indictment of an outdated system at the mercy of the self-interested blazer brigade.
What did we learn? Two things. The Twickenham crowd cannot complete a Mexican wave and England possess the power to run over the top of any second- rate opposition.
Even the Italian medic was knocked on to his backside at one point in the second half, with Jonny May inflicting the damage in this instance.
England’s Six Nations fate was taken out of their hands after Wales beat Scotland earlier in the afternoon, so this was a case of smash, bash and dash.
For the first half an hour, England were averaging close to a point a minute.
They ran over Italian defenders like they were an Under 18 team, whilst Joe Cokanasiga and Manu Tuilagi threw the ball around like they were back at home in the Pacific islands.
‘Get after them !’ shouted team-mates at Ellis Genge in a bid to rev up the tyro prop. Not that he ever needs any revving up.
Billy Vunipola got his hands on the ball inside the first minute and Kyle Sinckler did not shy away from the action.
Italian players were helped off the field early on, walking wounded, and England went to town.
Even the great Sergio Parisse looked like yesterday’s man when he was stripped of the ball in contact by Owen Farrell.
Turning down a kick at goal in the seventh minute, Farrell kicked for the corner and, from the lineout drive, Jamie George scored the first of England’s eight tries.
Italy had a couple of shortlived hurrahs. What they lack in skill, they compensate for in emotion and Tommaso Allan scored a token first- half try after 20 phases of determination. The handful of Italian journalists in the press box jumped up like they had just won the World Cup.
Rugby’s horoscopes had tipped 2019 to be the year of the English beasts. Eddie Jones had picked England’s heaviest ever backline and they turned on the power.
With all Italian eyes on the heavies, Elliot Daly found space out wide and slipped through Angelo Esposito, before feeding Jonny May for his 13th try in 14 Tests. England were ruthless, while Italy were toothless. Mismatches were all over the pitch.
For the first time in five years, Tuilagi appeared on the England scoresheet. After giving Esposito the shoulder, he handed off Michele Campagnaro and burst clear with a beaming smile.
‘It almost feels like you’ve been here before,’ boomed the music through the Twickenham speakers.
The crowd had a taste for blood. So much so that they booed Farrell when he kicked for goal after 25 minutes.
Mexican waves crashed around and after Tuilagi powered through another gap, Brad Shields scored the bonus point try.
Every now and then, England’s players gathered in a huddle to reset. A guard against complacency on Big Joe’s big day.
The second half started in the same vein. Cokanasiga carried the ball in one hand like a loaf of bread, before Farrell switched play for Tuilagi’s second try down the right wing.
There was another sign of Italian resistance when Luca Morisi scored his side’s second, so Jones unloaded his bench.
Scrum- half Dan Robson was finally given another opportunity to impress in the 62nd minute, with George Ford partnering him in a new half-back combination.
Question have been asked about Jones’ seeming reluctance to deploy Robson and the Wasps favourite quickly made his mark.
After George Kruis scored from a charged-down kick, Robson got on Cokanasiga’s shoulder to score the first try of his Test career.
Will he be a one try wonder? Only time will tell. Jones is running out of opportunities to properly blood Robson to international rugby as the clock ticks down towards the World Cup.
England were still not satisfied, with Jones seemingly intent on revenge for the embarrassment caused by Italy’s ‘no ruck’ tactics two years ago.
Shields rounded off the rout following another charge down in the final minute and it was a case of arrivederci Italia.
ENGLAND WOMEN scored nine tries in a crushing 55-0 Six Nations win over Italy in Exeter.
Jess Breach, Lark Davies and captain Sarah Hunter each crossed in the opening period to put England 21-0 up at the interval.
After the break, Sarah Bern, Marlie Packer, Vickii Cornborough, Breach, Abbie Scott and Vicky Fleetwood all scored in front of a 10,545 crowd at Sandy Park — a record for a Women’s Six Nations game in England.
This was a giant step towards reclaiming the Six Nations title and England will win the Grand Slam if they beat bottom side Scotland at Twickenham next Saturday.
They could even be crowned champions later today if holders France fail to win in Ireland.