England vs Italy result: Watson try seals convincing farewell victory as Italians kept scorelees
Re-live all the action from St James’ Park where England ran in four tries in a dominant display as they prepare to leave for Japan
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Your support makes all the difference.England finished their preparations for the Rugby World Cup with a convincing 37-0 demolition of Italy to make it three wins from four warm-up games.
Ben Youngs, Joe Marchant, Ellis Genge and Anthony Watson all scored second-half tries to seal the victory in style, with Owen Farrell kicking 17 points including three first-half penalties in what was a uncharacteristically slow start from the hosts.
However, the second half saw England find their stride as they dominated Italy, who found themselves without a single chance of scoring after the break, though the victory was soured by injuries to Joe Launchbury, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Kyle Sinckler.
England fly to Japan on Sunday for a 10-day training camp in Miyazaki, before playing their first World Cup fixture against Tonga on 22 September. Re-live all the action below.
When is it?
England vs Italy takes place at St James’ Park on Friday 6 September.
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 7:45pm.
Where can I watch it?
The Test will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action from 7pm. Highlights will be shown on BBC One at 11:05pm and at 11am on Saturday on BBC Two.
Teams
England: Anthony Watson; Ruaridh McConnochie, Joe Marchant, Piers Francis, Jonny May’ Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes; Tom Curry, Mark Wilson, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Charlie Ewels, Matt Kvesic, Willi Heinz, George Ford, Joe Cokanasiga.
Italy: Jayden Hayward; Mattia Bellini, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Edoardo Padovani; Carlo Canna, Callum Braley; Nicola Quaglio, Oliviero Fabiani, Simone Ferrari; David Sisi, Dean Budd; Sebastian Negri, Abraham Steyn, Jimmy Tuivaiti.
Replacements: Federico Zani, Andrea Lovotti, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, Alessandro Zanni, Maxime Mbanda, Guglielmo Palazzani, Tommaso Allan.
Odds
England to win: 1/41
Italy to win: 50/1
Draw: 100/1
Prediction
England by 18: Even though it is a warm-up match, England have shown genuine desire to get as much as possible out of these matches, and Friday night should be no different. For a number of players, this will be their final chance to push for a place in the best XV before the World Cup, and it is an opportunity not to be wasted.
26 mins: Marchant puts in a nice tackle on Budd that sends the Italian skipper up into the air and crashing to the turf, though the offload gets away before the centre can make the hit and Hayward tries to break down the left, only for an England hand to force the ball into touch for an Italian lineout.
29 mins: Farrell judges a chip over beautifully for May to run on to and he steps Hayward with ease, only for the first man in Padovani to get over the ball and win the penalty for holding on. To make matters worse for England, Launchbury is down hurt and having his back tended to, but he says he's good to continue.
30 mins: The crowd roars Wilson on as he breaks away on the blindside, with Lawes getting up nicely to steal a lineout. However, Wilson's offload to May is poor and the wing knocks on, with the chance going begging.
Still no tries in this one.
31 mins: The ball squirts out of an England scrum and Youngs has to move quickly to get it, and it results in farrell kicking over for McConnochie to chase. Hayward kicks clear before the wing can close him down, and England have possession back in their hands.
33 mins: England so nearly get the break they're looking for as Vunipola offloads to Launchbury, who nearly finds Farrell on his shoulder only for the ball to go forward again.
Launchbury hasn't recovered here and he's going to have to be replaced by Charlie Ewels, but even stranger is that both Joe Marler and Dan Cole are going off too in a tactical switch as Eddie Jones replaces both props after just 32 minutes. That is very strange, and one we'll have to ask him about afterwards.
Immediately, new tighthead Kyle Sinckler gives away a penalty in the scrum.
36 mins: Youngs puts the ball straight into touch with a misjudged effort outside his 22, meaning Italy have a great attacking platform to use with a lineout just outside the English 22. They fluff the lineout though as Fabiani throws long, and the chance goes begging.
40 mins: England get a late penalty just before the end of the half as O'Keefe judges Italy's No 9 Braley to be offside, but there are boos for England when Farrell chooses to go for goal. He's just over 40 metres out bang in the middle of the pitch.
40 mins: Farrell lands his third penalty of the evening and the teams head for the changing rooms with England leading 9-0.
The hosts have been far from their best though, and haven't once threatened the try line in that half. Things can only get better.
Half-time: I have to be honest, I'm still trying to get my head around the tactical decision to bring both props off after just 32 minutes. Was it Jones's way of telling the team their performance was not good enough, or was it a preconceived plan to shake things up? I'd suggest the latter as Marler and Cole didn't seem too displeased when they left the field.
But that's probably the biggest talking point from the first half mainly because England have not been good enough tonight. They have not managed to create a single try-scoring chance, while Italy have done exactly that twice, and had they shown more clinical finishing they could have been in front of this match.
Either way, we need something to liven up this Newcastle crowd who are waiting for something to cheer.
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