Italy v England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction from Six Nations as England hold on to beat Azzurri
Italy 24-27 England: Steve Borthwick’s England come from behind and then hold on to edge out a fiesty Azzurri side in Rome
England recovered from a scruffy start and a 17-8 deficit to beat Italy 27-24 in their opening Six Nations game in Rome, ending a run of four successive opening-round defeats in the championship.
Italy flew out of the blocks with a Tommaso Allan penalty and a well-created try for Alessandro Garbisi and though Elliot Daly hit back for England, their new-look side looked disorganised, not least when Allan flew through for the hosts’ second try.
Two George Ford penalties closed the gap to 17-14 at half-time, somewhat flattering for England, but they took control in the second period, starting when scrum half Alex Mitchell showed great determination to claim their second try.
Ford’s boot stretched the lead and more aggressive defence kept Italy at bay until Monty Ioane broke through for a converted try in added time to earn Italy a losing bonus point.
Relive all the action from Rome below.You can get all the latest Six Nations odds and tips here.
Italy 17-8 England
31 mins: Lineout secured and England set up the maul. It drives forward but is stopped a couple of metres out.
The forwards keep it tight, Underhill and then Chessum burrow. England then go wide to the right, Freeman powerfully charges through defenders and gets within a metre. Almost loses his shorts int he process as he bares his buttocks to the Rome crowd. Seeing more of him than we needed to there...
Another penalty and England will go for the posts this time.
Italy 17-8 England
30 mins: Roots goes for the line, then Chessum has a go. Bodies on the line and we’ll come back for the penalty. England kick to the corner and will fancy their chances from this five-metre lineout
Italy 17-8 England
29 mins: England with an attacking opportunity immediately from kick-off. They steadily work their way up and Itoje drives England within a few metres of the line.
TRY! Italy 17-8 England (Tommaso Allan 26’)
Solid defensive lineout from England and a good maul to follow. Great kick chase and Freeman nails Ioane in his own half.
But Italy go through the hands to the right and they score through Tommaso Allan!
It’s absolutely sublime - Paolo Garbisi wraps around and that catches out Slade, Menoncello strides down the right wing, draws the final man and flicks inside to the supporting Allan for the run in. England’s defence completely caught out!
Conversion under the sticks and Italy extend the lead.
WATCH: Italy and England trade early tries
Here are the two tries so far in this game.
Italy 10-8 England
23 mins: Big one-up carries from England but Italy firm in defence and Ford’s chip over the top is pretty aimless as Allan claims.
No one carried more than Italy in last year’s Six Nations but they’ve been more pragmatic so far. They do try to carry form their own 22 there though and win a penalty. Decent result and they’ll have a platform up towards halfway.
TRY! Italy 10-8 England (Elliot Daly 20’)
Powerful carry from Roots makes good ground and England then go wide to the left. And they score in the corner through Elliot Daly!
Beautiful running line from Freeman - who has been immense for Northampton this season - draws two defenders and flicks the offload to Daly in support, who dives over the line in the corner. Very nice.
Ford can’t add the extras though as his touchline conversion drifts wide
Italy 10-3 England
18 mins: A couple of surges from England take them into Italian territory but this Italian defence has real bite. Snapping out of the line to force runners back.
Eventually England opt for the boot and a trade of kicks ends with a goal-line dropout for Italy.
PENALTY! Italy 10-3 England (George Ford 15’)
No mistake from George Ford from the tee, although his effort from the 22, to the right of the uprights, clips the inside of the post on the way through!
A bit heart in mouth there but three points on the board.
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