From stuttering to convincing, England maintained their unbeaten start to the 2015 RBS 6 Nations with a substance over style victory against Italy at Twickenham.
Jonathan Joseph’s international initiation continued with a double score and man of the match display, Danny Cipriani marked eight years away from RBS 6 Nations rugby by scoring with his first touch and Nick Easter became England’s oldest ever try scorer.
It took a while for England to find their level and while coach Stuart Lancaster will concede this team is still far from the finished article, there is certainly promise to go with their passion.
After last week, Italy will see elements of this match as progress but coach Jacques Brunel will also look to Kelly Haimona’s failure to land any of the ten points presented to him with the boot as a flaw in his best-laid plans.
In 20 matches over 24 years, Italy have yet to muster a win against England – though prior to last year’s one-sided romp at the Stadio Olimpico, previous scorelines had seen them separated by just seven and four points.
However, with odds of a win in triple figures, only the most incurable romantic would have thought the visitors were going to change their losing streak on Valentine’s Day.
But under leaden skies that were 50 shades of grey, they snatched their hosts’ red rose and put the home crowds’ hearts in their mouth.
And less than five minutes in, Italy – who made four changes to the team beaten by Ireland seven days ago – were ahead.
Dylan Hartley’s line out was stolen and a surging break from Luca Morisi was concluded four phases later by Sergio Parisse for Italy’s first try of this year’s Championship.
Haimona missed the extras while England were missing a spark, their pedestrian start reminiscent of the opening stages of their win eight days ago in Cardiff.
Parisse had ruthlessly slammed his side for their lack of possession last week and they clearly listened to the big man.
And their creativity and enterprise nearly broached England’s line again, Andrea Masi brilliantly gathered Haimona’s chip only for his shoulder to flatten England full-back Mike Brown.
Brown was stretchered off after a five-minute break and the long delay seemed to stilt the Azzurri’s momentum.
However, George Biagi’s interception had England back peddling again until a desperate cover tackle set up a period of possession for the hosts that concluded when George Ford reduced arrears with the first of his three penalties.
Italy’s game is built on their physicality and resolute defence but stopping a rampaging Billy Vunipola takes more than reputation.
He bulldozed through Parisse and Edoardo Gori for a try in the corner, only awarded after a lengthy consultation with the video referee.
And three minutes later, Joseph broke through the Azzuri’s increasing thin blue line for another score, this time converted by Ford.
The home crowd finally at their backs, England were starting to swagger – their cause further aided when Haimona spurned a chance to stem the tide with two straightforward penalty misses.
Forward pressure can win penalties but Italy’s failure to turn those penalties into points must be reassessed before their trip to BT Murrayfield in a fortnight.
England were still far from fluid but Ford extended their lead after their patient possession was rewarded early in the second half.
To their credit, despite the odds and pack stacked against them, Italy’s ambition never waned until the try floodgates opened late on.
Morisi scored their second try with a moment of solo brilliance, dissecting Joe Marler and Dave Attwood and skipping away from Anthony Watson’s last ditch tap-tackle.
But once again Haimona missed the extras and once again England responded, Ben Youngs quick-thinking tap and go catching Italy’s pack flat-footed and Ford threading the resulting conversion.
Three minutes later and Joseph added his second, thundering clear of flailing tackles after smart work from Ford released him.
England were now in total control, the crowd’s first half tension suddenly evaporating and Italian resistance crumbling.
Ciprani has waited nearly seven years for his return to the England fold and he scored with his first touch after replacing Ford, accelerating away from Italian shirts for a simple try that he also converted.
Another England comeback ‘kid’ then joined the scoring fun, Easter – who spent 40 months waiting for his 48th cap in last week’s match with Wales – taking advantage of tiring Italy for only his sixth international try.
Brunel showed little emotion as Morisi scored his second try as a late consolation while England coach Stuart Lancaster, fist pumping after last week’s win in Wales, settled on a business like handshake. Job done, the real job ahead.
