Abby Dow crossed for two tries as England cut loose against Italy to book their place in the Women’s Six Nations final on Super Saturday.
Emily Scarratt and Vicky Fleetwood crossed for first-half tries but Italy, making their first appearance in the 2021 Championship, dominated possession to frustrate the visitors.
However, England found their rhythm in a ten-minute second-half blitz that saw Dow score twice, as Harriet Millar-Mills and Helena Rowland also crossed.
Replacement prop Bryony Cleall made it three tries from three caps with a low burrowing finish, while Claudia MacDonald and Lark Davies finished it with further tries late on.
After beating Scotland last week, this victory ensures England win Pool A and will meet the winners of Pool B for Women’s Six Nations title on Super Saturday in two weeks’ time.
Italy and Scotland will meet next weekend to battle for second place in the pool.
ENGLAND OVERCOME SLOW START
England took just four minutes to score against Italy in November on a day when they secured the 2020 Grand Slam with a 54-0 win.
However, the Azzure made a much brighter start this time by starving England of possession and having the ball for 65 per cent of the first 20 minutes.
The hosts made a couple of visits to England’s 22 but were unable to leave with points and two poor handling errors gifted England their first two tries.
The first was capitalised on by Scarratt, who picked up a loose ball in midfield and ran in unopposed, and the same thing happened seven minutes later when Italy put the ball on the ground.
Inside centre Meg Jones sprinted clear this time and then offloaded for Fleetwood to touch down.
Italy scored their first points five minutes before half-time as Michela Sillari booted a long-range penalty after Scarratt was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle.
But that was almost immediately cancelled out by Rowland, who restored England’s lead to 14 points before half-time.
CHAMPIONS KICK ON
England increased their tempo at the beginning of the second half and it paid off quickly, as Scarratt – just seconds after returning – kicked their second penalty of the game.
The Azzure’s defence started to tire and scrum-half Sara Barattin was sent to the sin-bin for trying to play the ball on the ground.
England cashed in on their numerical advantage, as four tries in quick succession put the result beyond doubt.
After a spell of intense pressure inside Italy’s 22, Dow dived over for her first try in the corner before Millar-Mills powered through from close range.
Fly-half Rowland skipped through to score and then winger Dow then added her second by breaking free down the left, blitzing through a couple of tackles and touching the ball down.
England emptied their bench, with Poppy Cleall on to replace captain Sarah Hunter – making her first England appearance in 13 months – and prop Bryony Cleall on for Shaunagh Brown.
And it was prop Cleall who scored the next try by finishing off from a driving maul before replacement scrum-half MacDonald picked a great line and waltzed through to take England past 60 points.
Replacement hooker Davies added the cherry on top of the cake by dotting down England’s ninth try from a driving maul at the death to complete the 67-3 triumph.
