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As it happenedended1517763190

Italy vs England - as it happened: Eddie Jones' men see out seven-try victory in Rome

Re-live all the action from Sunday's Six Nations encounter

Jack de Menezes
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Sunday 04 February 2018 15:34 GMT
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The Six Nations: in numbers

England begin their Six Nations championship defence against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, with Eddie Jones' side looking to become the first nation to win the title outright three times consecutively in its 135-year history.

Jones rolls the dice by naming Ben Te'o at outside centre ahead of Jonathan Joseph, despite the Worcester Warriors midfielder not playing since October and having just seven appearances to his name this season, Te'o is brought in to try and give England some power out wide, with Joseph among the replacements should the game open up late on.

Italy meanwhile will be led by talismanic No 8 Sergio Parisse, who wins his 130th cap today, while fellow veteran Alessandro Zanni starts at lock to win his 100th cap 23 months after his last international appearance. The gauntlet has already been laid down by Wales, who thrashed Scotland 34-7 in the Six Nations' opening game yesterday, while Ireland needed a late Johnny Sexton drop-goal from 42m out to beat France 15-13.

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77 mins: TRY FOR ENGLAND!

Jack de Menezes4 February 2018 16:48
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77 mins: The first try sees Sam Simmonds burst through the line and turn on the gas, breezing to the line without anyone getting close to him.

Immediately, England break again, and a bullet pass from Ford from the ruck finds Simmonds out wide, who sucks in the defence before feeding Jack Nowell to score in the right corner. Farrell can't convert, so England lead 15-46.

Jack de Menezes4 February 2018 16:50
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80 mins: FULL-TIME

ITALY 15-46 ENGLAND

Jack de Menezes4 February 2018 16:52

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