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Anthony Watson scored a double. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Anthony Watson scored two attempts to get England back on the winning track with a 41-18 Six Nations win against Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.
Reigning champions England raced on six attempts for a bonus point win after their 11-6 no-try loss to Scotland last week, the Scots’ first win at Twickenham since 1983.
By contrast, England led 20-8 at halftime on Saturday, with Jonny Hill, Watson and Jonny May scoring attempts after Montanna Ioane crossed to give the Azzurri a surprising lead in the third minute.
Watson’s breakaway effort early in the second half left the result out of the question before replacement Jack Willis, who later left with a knee injury, and Elliot Daly added more attempts.
This was Italy’s 29th consecutive loss in the Six Nations, a streak dating back to 2015, and it meant they had been beaten in all 28 Tests against England.
But it was still a much improved performance by the Azzurri, fresh off a humiliating 50-10 loss to France, and defied all predictions by opening the scoring with Ioane’s try in the third minute.
“That was being us again,” England captain Owen Farrell told ITV Sport. “It’s not the best performance we’ve ever had, but in terms of the feeling, the energy, and the intention, we came back to being ourselves.
Meanwhile, Italy coach Franco Smith told reporters: “It was one more step for us, a step in the right direction.”
“The backbone of our team is a really young group, but this was much better than last week.
“Unfortunately, we made a lot of unforced errors; our game management needs attention, but a lot of boxes were checked today.”
His England counterpart, Eddie Jones, resisted the temptation to drop Farrell after a lackluster performance in the Calcutta Cup, but moved him to inside center, with George Ford restored in the elevated middle as he returned to a familiar combination of 10. -12.
Seasoned supporters Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola returned from suspension and injury to form an entirely new front row alongside hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie after England’s poor performance against the Scots.
But it was Italy that took the lead.
No 8 Azzurri Michele Lamaro scooped the ball off the deck, with a quick, flat pass from scrum-half Stephen Varney freeing fellow midfielder Paolo Garbisi, who went blindside.
A quick driving movement saw winger Jacopo Trulla send left wing Ioane, the nephew of former Australian winger Digby Ioane, into the corner.
Garbisi missed the conversion and Farrell soon cut the deficit with a close-range penalty.
When Italy’s block David Sisi was penalized for a high tackle near his own posts, Farrell decided not to kick on goal, a move claimed in the 14th minute when Exeter Hill’s block was run over for his first test attempt.
Following Farrell’s failed conversion, Garbisi tied Italy with a penalty in the 20th minute.
England, man of the match Sinckler leading the way, was starting to get on top and crossed the Italy line for the second time when wing Watson flipped over in the 26th minute following a skillful play involving a May pass.
Farrell converted and England led 15-8.
An overthrown England lineout gave Italy a chance to equalize, but a knock-on saw the opportunity wasted.
That mistake was compounded for Italy on the edge of the break when the acrobatic May leapt high in the corner while eluding the challenge of opposing wing Luca Sperandio before landing for his 32nd attempt in 63 tests.
Garbisi’s penalty shortly after the break reduced England’s lead to 20-11.
But hopes of a revival for Italy were dashed when Watson intercepted Garbisi’s pass on the edge of England’s 22 before running to try.
And at the hour mark, Willis left after scrum half Dan Robson’s 30-meter break stunned Italy.
Willis, however, was removed on a stretcher 16 minutes from time.
Italy’s replacement Tommaso Allan scored a try only for full-back Daly to respond in kind.
