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.
TMO REVIEW! Wales 0-20 Scotland
36 mins: A heart-in-mouth moment for Scotland in their own 22 as Watkin charges down Rowe’s clearance kick and flicks it back to Tompkins but he can’t gather and the ball goes forward. Scotland get away with it and earn a scrum.
But the TMO wants to have a look at Luke Crosbie flying into a ruck to see if there’s head contact...
Wales 0-20 Scotland
35 mins: Scotland give away the penalty on halfway and Costelow thumps it down into the 22. Wales have to score here, you feel.
But they overthrow the lineout and possession reverts immediately to Scotland. Deary me.
Wales 0-20 Scotland
33 mins: Scotland did all that with 14 men as Gray had headed off the field but back to 15 now as Sam Skinner comes on for him in the second row.
Scotland’s defence around the gainline is superb. They’re firing up and knocking Wales backwards. The Welsh have no quick ball to work with so resort to kicking, which they’re also not doing well.
TRY! Wales 0-20 Scotland (Duhan van der Merwe 31’)
Richie Gray appears to have left the field with an injured hand, so Scotland down to 14 temporarily. But they’re on the attack, Huw Jones gets into the 22 with a run down the right.
They’re still going forward and it’s a try! Lovely hands out the back by Tuipulotu to free Russell on the wraparound, Costelow overreads the Huw Jones dummy line and Russell slides through a gap, draws the final man and pops to Duhan van der Merwe for a simple run-in. His 22nd try in 35 Scotland caps.
Simple conversion for Russell. This is getting out of hand for Wales.
Wales 0-13 Scotland
29 mins: CRUNCH! Turner with a huge hit on Adams! But Wales into the 22, still. Ritchie gets over the ball at the ruck and it looks like it will be a turnover but Davies just about wrestles it away to retain possession.
And then the attack comes to an end as Davies throws the ball into his own man, Domachowski, and it bobbles forward. So, so poor. Russell then thumps a monster kick clear.
Wales 0-13 Scotland
26 mins: Rowe grabs the loose ball and takes it over halfway but a couple of phases later, Scotland are pinged for not releasing. Good jackal work at the breakdown by Tommy Reffell to stop Pierre Schoeman laying the ball back.
Another good platform for Wales, can they go through the phases in attack and actually make ground?
WATCH: Pierre Schoeman gives Scotland the lead
Here’s that opening try by Pierre Schoeman. Old-school prop finish
PENALTY! Wales 0-13 Scotland (Finn Russell 22’)
Easy kick for Finn Russell and suddenly the lead is 13 points. Wales might start chasing the game now, which could cause more problems.
Wales 0-10 Scotland
21 mins: Halfway through the first half and Wales will be annoyed by their lack of precision in attacking areas so far. Scotland win the free-kick from the scrum, so flip the field with a big kick into the Welsh 22.
They know it’s coming back as Wales are playing a kick-heavy strategy and then Finn Russell thumps a stunning 50-22. Superb but he was given way too much space by Welsh chasers. Wales compound the error as Adams throws the ball into the crowd to stop Scotland taking a quick lineout - you can’t do that.
Scotland will go for three now.
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