Italy vs England LIVE: Six Nations rugby final score, result and reaction from Rome today
Follow latest updates from Rome as Eddie Jones’ side win their first game of the 2022 tournament
England showed the ruthless streak demanded by Eddie Jones as they atoned for their shattering collapse against Scotland by outclassing Italy 33-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Jones had urged his team to “light up Rome” and in response they delivered a five-try rout orchestrated by man of the match Marcus Smith to inflict a 34th successive Championship defeat on the Azzurri.
England had stormed 21-0 ahead by half-time and Smith was at the heart of many of their best moments, but he truly shone when firing a superb missed pass to provide Elliot Daly with a simple try in the 45th minute.
And unlike at Murrayfield a week earlier when he was replaced in the 63rd minute to widespread puzzlement, there was no sign of George Ford arriving off the bench until late on and this time Joe Marchant made way.
Ben Youngs eventually joined him at half-back to equal Jason Leonard’s record as England’s most capped player on 114 appearances, with the round-three visit of Wales to Twickenham the likely setting for him to surpass the milestone. Follow the latest reaction from Rome:
Italy 0-14 England, 39 minutes
A forward pass from Italy and England pour bodies through. A last chance to attack.
Numbers on the left, and Freddie Steward’s long legs pump like great pistons as he punches onwards down the touchline.
Open acreage on the right, now...
Italy 0-14 England, 37 minutes
More reason to roar for the hosts - Italy have the scrum penalty! Pietro Ceccarelli is amped up after getting a nudge on Ellis Genge, but it is on the opposite side that the penalty comes, Will Stuart turning in under the pressure of Danilo Fischetti. Hearty back taps for the front row from the rest of their forward colleagues.
Toa Halafihi is among those slapping spines, but that’ll be his last involvement for the half - he is being called from the pitch for an HIA. Sebastian Negri is on in his stead.
Italy 0-14 England, 36 minutes
Now to the close-in charges of the forwards. Tom Curry makes a half-break, and Ellis Genge spies the white line...
Knock on! Genge’s excitement levels rise as he launches from a metre out but he fails to pack the ball in his hand luggage, and Gianmarco Lucchesi makes sure that the referee has spotted Genge’s mishandling. Italy celebrate - that’s an excellent defensive stand!
Italy 0-14 England, 36 minutes
Now to the close-in charges of the forwards. Tom Curry makes a half-break, and Ellis Genge spies the white line...
Knock on! Genge’s excitement levels rise as he launches from a metre out but he fails to pack the ball in his hand luggage, and Gianmarco Lucchesi makes sure that the referee has spotted Genge’s mishandling. Italy celebrate - that’s an excellent defensive stand!
Italy 0-14 England, 35 minutes
Inch by inch, England begin to chug out of their starting station, but Italy’s defensive body position is outstanding. They look to have mobbed atop the ball, but Jamie George does superbly to keep the ball alive, squeezing away.
Italy 0-14 England, 34 minutes
Another promising England attack is ended by an Italian offside, and Damon Murphy’s patience is beginning to wear thin. Federico Ruzza is the man who is over-eager on this occasion, and Michele Lamaro is duly warned to improve his team’s discipline or face further sanction.
Marcus Smith finds the left corner that nearly proved fertile turf for England moments ago.
NO TRY! Italy 0-14 England, 33 minutes
He has. A good spot from Brian MacNeice - Isiekwe lifts Itoje and then slips in front of his Saracens teammate, preventing Italy having the required access to the England lock-cum-flanker. That is obstruction, a penalty against England, and will necessitate the removal of five points from the ledger.
TRY! Italy 0-19 ENGLAND (Maro Itoje try, 33 minutes)
And Maro Itoje crashes over! Randall plays the slippery eel through contact and then Itoje capitalises on the momentum, biffing the Italian fringe defence out of his path to decisively dot down.
Hang on, the TMO wants to check something. Has Nick Isiekwe got in front of Itoje as the catcher lands at the lineout?
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