England 31 Italy 14 LIVE RESULT: Borthwick’s side beat Italians comfortably to pick up first Six Nations win – updates
ENGLAND picked up their first Six Nations win of the tournament with a 31-14 win over Italy.
Jack Willis opened the scoring with a brilliant try for Steve Borthwick's side before Ollie Chessum touched down himself soon after.
Henry Arundel then notched late to stop Italy's fightback in the second half.
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- England team: 15 Steward, 14 Malins, 13 Slade, 12 Lawrence, 11 Hassell-Collins, 10 Farrell, 9 Van Poortvliet; 1 Genge, 2 George, 3 Sinckler, 4 Chessum, 5 Itoje, 6 Ludlam, 7 Willis, 8 Dombrandt.
- Italy team: 15 Capuozzo, 14 Padovani, 13 Ignacio Brex, 12 Morisi, 11 Menoncello, 10 Allan, 9 Varney; 1 Fischetti, 2 Nicotera, 3 Riccioni, 4 Cannone, 5 Ruzza, 6 Negri, 7 Lamaro (c), 8 Cannone.
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Time to reflect for all sides
With a break from the Guinness Six Nations next weekend, it gives coaches plenty of time to work with their squads and fine tune things after the opening two rounds of fixtures.
England will travel to Cardiff for their next game as they take on bottom of the table Wales.
Steve Borthwick will be taking nothing for granted as a wounded beast can often be a dangerous one.
With the history between the two nations, Warren Gatland should not need to do much motivating of his side.
Irrelevant to form of position in the table, they tend to raise their game to face opposition they have history with.
Italy meanwhile will entertain Ireland in Rome, with Andy Farrell's side looking to continue their surge towards a Grand Slam campaign.
Borthwick's reign up and running
The England coach will be pleased to get his first win under his belt and to give his squad something to build on.
After a sterling first half performance, Italy came back into the game and won the second half, but there were plenty of positives for England to focus on.
Rome was not built in a day, but this is certainly a good step forward in their evolution under the new man.
Credit: Getty Ollie sets standards for side
The Guinness Six Nations player of the match, Ollie Lawrence, caused Italy problems all day with his bursting runs through the middle of the park.
He hit them hard, creating openings for his team to breach.
It is important to have players like Lawrence who can ruin the defensive lines with his bull-like runs, absorbing hits and gaining ground.
Credit: AFP
Chariots swinging low again
The 'feel good' factor was back for all to see at Twickenham today, in parts, but there is still work to be done.
Italy played them game in parts, not challenging England with their attacking play enough.
When they did, they stretched Borthwick's side and that will be something he will want to continue to work on.
Tries from Willlis, Chessum, George and Arundell gave the English what seemed a comfortable victory.
Smiles are back on faces of players and fans in London once again.
Credit: PA FT: England 31-14 Italy
The referee brings the game to an end.
Important win for England today at Twickenham.
Steve Borthwick's side needed to show what they were made of after the Calcutta Cup defeat last weekend.
England 31-14 Italy
80. We approach the final moments of the game.
Ollie Lawrence has been awarded the Guinness Six Nations player of the match award.
Great performance by the England man.
England 31-14 Italy
78. Italy continue to work through the phases, looking to find a way through this stout English defence.
England have defended well today.
The Azzurri have only tested them in phases of the game,
England 31-14 Italy
76. Italy continue to come forward.
They will be more concerned that the physio is having to to treat Capuozzo currently.
He has carried the ball more than anyone else today.
Credit: Reuters England 31-14 Italy
74. That try should certainly put this result to bed now.
It would take something unbelievable for Italy to find their way back into this game now.
England will look to turn the screw now.
England 31-14 Italy
72. Mitchell does brilliantly down the left wing and draws in the challenge before offloading.
Arundell is there to take the pass on go in at the corner.
Farrell is unable to add the conversion.
Try - Henry Arundell (England)
England 26-14 Italy
70. England use the penalty well to find touch.
Penning Italy back into their own twenty-two.
Italy are struggling to keep the hosts at the moment.
England 26-14 Italy
68. England have the put in at the scrum.
Their pack have not been able to drive the Italians much today but their indiscipline often gifts the hosts penalties.
The Azzurri all too often turn the scrum, much to their disadvantage.
Credit: Getty England 26-14 Italy
66. Italy have suddenly come alive in this game.
Much like they did against France, they can surprise you when they seem down and out.
England need to dig deep to stop this Italian fightback.
England 26-14 Italy
64. Great play by Alessandro Fusco who has only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes.
He spotted the gap between the forwards and headed towards the line.
Allan converts to get Italy back into the game.
Try - Alessandro Fusco (Italy)
England 26-7 Italy
62. Capuozzo makes a darting run down the left, jinking in between English challenges.
He hands off well but they do not have enough numbers to to utilise it.
England regroup and close the door once again.
England 26-7 Italy
60. England look to freshen things up as Alex Mitchell comes on for his Six Nations debut.
Italy have the put in at the scrum five metres from their own line.
They look to run it rather than resort to the kicking we saw in the first half.
Credit: Getty England 26-7 Italy
58. Italy managed to turn the ball over.
As the visitors look to drive forward, poor discipline costs them as they are caught offside.
It gives England the chance to come forward once again.
England 26-7 Italy
56. Italy are really finding it hard to cope with England.
The numbers are not helping but Borthwick's side are looking to take it up a gear now.
They have recovered from the early shock of that Italian try.
England 26-7 Italy
54. England are looking to turn the screw now.
They are really trying to work the kicks in behind Italy.
It seems like something they have identified in their tactics for this game.
England 26-7 Italy
52. Italy's indiscipline costs them once again.
Not only conceding the try but a man down for ten minutes also.
England need to take full advantage of the numbers now.
Credit: Reuters Yellow card - Simone Ferrari (Italy)
England penalty try
England 19-7 Italy
50. England are awarded a penalty after trying to test Italy with another of those kicks in behind them.
Genge and Sinckler both took big hits there.
The physios are on patching people up, it seems Sinckler may have a broken nose there.
