England finished their tournament on a high with a resounding victory in Rome, nearly overcoming the massive points deficit to scare Ireland. Alas Leonardo Sarto’s breakaway try in the final quarter put paid to any chance of that, but it was a fine performance from the visitors, with captain Chris Robshaw appropriately putting the cap on the day with a try on fulltime. With that England finish second, left to ponder what might have been had Gaël Fickou not interjected in the final minutes of the opening match in Paris.
The performance was both predictable and impressive, and one that will have Stuart Lancaster beaming ahead of the daunting summer tour to New Zealand. Owen Farrell produced the goods when he needed to, though George Ford did ever-so-gently hint at his capabilities by splitting the line and creating Robshaw’s try at the death. Neither offer the complete package of a Dan Carter or Aaron Cruden, but given that nobody outside of New Zealand boasts comparable quality it’s nice enough knowing that there are confident players putting their hands up for selection.
Another reminder of class game in the 67th minute, when Manu Tuilagi announced his return to the world stage by casually trundling through two would-be tacklers to touch down under the posts. Luther Burrell has done exceptionally well in the championship, well enough to leave Brad Barritt in the dust, and yet Tuilagi offers that something extra that might well consign the poor Northampton lad to the bench. It’s another good problem to have, and one that Lancaster wouldn’t have been convinced of just a few weeks ago.
Italy will have been disappointed by their performance. After a promising start to the tournament they have faded at the end, hampered by injuries to key players but more so by the ongoing lack of depth that shows no sign of fading in the near future. There is a feeling that Jacques Brunel has taken this team as far as he can, though with no obvious successor among the Italian coaching ranks his place is probably assured through to the World Cup. Whether another coach could have achieved more with the same resources is questionable at best.
Muted joy for English fans, solemn consignment for those of the Azzurri. One team on an upward trajectory, while the other spins its wheels. For England, the ultimate test awaits in the land of the long while cloud, a perfect barometer to measure their progress ahead of the World Cup. For Italy, a chance to rebuild and test some youngsters in the South Pacific. For both, the hard work starts now.
ITALY 11 vs 52 ENGLAND
Saturday, March 15, 12:30 GMT, Rome
SCORING
06 mins – L. Orquera pen 3-0
11 mins – O. Farrell pen 3-3
13 mins – M. Brown try 3-8
14 mins – O. Farrell con 3-10
23 mins – L. Orquera pen 6-10
32 mins – O. Farrell try 6-15
33 mins – O. Farrell con 6-17
38 mins – M. Brown try 6-22
39 mins – O. Farrell con 6-24
52 mins – J. Nowell try 6-29
53 mins – O. Farrell con 6-31
61 mins – M. Vunipola try 6-36
62 mins – O. Farrell con 6-38
67 mins – M. Tuilagi try 6-43
67 mins – O. Farrell con 6-45
69 mins – L. Sarto try 11-45
80 mins – C. Robshaw try 11-50
80 mins – O. Farrell con 11-52
CARDS
51 mins – M. Bortolami yellow (team infringements)
ITALY
L. McLean; A. Esposito, M. Campagnaro, G. Garcia (A. Masi 72), L. Sarto; L. Orquera (T. Allan 43), T. Tebaldi (E. Gori 67); M. Agüero (M. Rizzo 47), L. Ghiraldini, L. Cittadini (A. de Marchi 47); Q. Geldenhuys, M. Bortolami; J. Furno (P. Derbyshire 53 {G. Biagi 62}), R. Barbieri, S. Parisse (capt.).
ENGLAND
M. Brown; J. Nowell, L. Burrell (M. Tuilagi 54), B. Twelvetrees (G. Ford 70), J. May; O. Farrell, D. Care (L. Dickson 67); M. Vunipola (M. Mullen 76), D. Hartley (T. Youngs 54), D. Wilson (H. Thomas 70), J. Launchbury (D. Attwood 70), C. Lawes; T. Wood (T. Johnson 67), C. Robshaw (capt.), B. Morgan.
Referee: P. Gauzere (FFR)
Assistants: N. Owens (WRU) & L. Hodges (WRU)
TMO: S. McDowell (IRFU)
