RAMPANT England got their Six Nations campaign back on track with a FIVE-try thumping of woeful Italy.
But Steve Borthwick will know his side have only made the first few steps along the road back to respectability – and that there may be plenty more bumps along the way.
Borthwick’s men were under pressure after their opening loss to Scotland last week exposed too many familiar failings.
Yet with their defensive intensity there from the first minute, led by the rampaging back row, the Twickenham fans could finally enjoy watching the Red Rose flower and not wilt.
Three first half touchdowns from the forwards, through recalled flanker Jack Willis, lock Ollie Chessum and hooker Jamie George meant the outcome was confirmed well before half-time.
It was a fabulous moment for Willis, whose career was on the line after a horror knee injury sustained against the same opponents in the behind closed door game at HQ in 2021.
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Chessum too, loved his close range first international try, with George rumbling over at the base of the rolling maul to sum up England’s forward dominance, while Ollie Lawrence’s powerball impressed in midfield.
The visitors, penalised repeatedly and reduced to 14 when No8 Lorenzo Cannone was sin-binned, could not halt the white tide.
And while Saracens prop Marco Riccioni forced his way over the England line at the start of the second half, it was a brief interruption.
England swiftly secured their bonus point fourth touchdown, with replacement prop Simone Ferrari earning their second yellow card for illegally collapsing a grinding drive on his own line for a penalty try.
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That allowed Borthwick to empty his bench, including appearances for Ben Earl, Henry Arundell and scrum-half Ben Mitchell.
But it saw a loss of focus, capitalised upon when Alessandro Fusco sniped through for Italy.
England responded, Mitchell making a snaking run down the short side for Arundell to mark his return by scoring in the left-hand corner.
And while Farrell’s conversion attempt came back off the upright, England were home and hosed.
Now for Cardiff in a fortnight.
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