Jonathan Joseph bursts away from Leonardo Sarto to score England's second try
© Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Matches: England 47 - 17 Italy

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: England | Italy

Jonathan Joseph scored twice to cement his reputation as England's X-factor as Stuart Lancaster's side routed Italy with a six-try performance.

It was Italy who struck first, Sergio Parisse barrelling over for a try in the fourth minute which silenced Twickenham. It was not until the 23rd minute that England took the lead, Billy Vunipola controversially being awarded a try after video review, despite no conclusive proof of a clear grounding being evident.

It seemed as though England had weathered the storm entirely when Joseph burst clear for a scintillating try from halfway. However, Luca Morisi's score at the start of the second half applied the pressure again, only for Ben Youngs to convert a quick-thinking tap penalty from close range.

Then England began to run riot. Joseph scored a second superb try from deep, while a Jonny May break was finished off by Danny Cipriani, who scored with his second touch after coming on as a substitute.

Nick Easter burrowed over from a rolling maul as the Italian defence crumbled completely. Italy did manage to score late on, with Morisi somehow scrambling down the line past May.

Jet-heeled Joseph grabs the spotlight

© Getty Images

• This was no vintage performance from England but in Jonathan Joseph, they have someone around whom they can build a potent backline. He was at the centre, albeit on the wing, of everything England did well. His two tries aligned wonderfully with the glowing praise levelled at England's "X-factor" by Stuart Lancaster in the week.
• But some of England's discipline will have frustrated their coach and his backroom staff. They bought three Italian dummies in the first 10 minutes and their tackling was a couple of notches short of what Andy Farrell demands from the team.
• Read the verdict from Twickenham here

An opening win in Wales installed England as Six Nations title favourites and saw Stuart Lancaster stick with the same 23 players, leaving substitute Easter to cover lock after injury to specialist second row Geoff Parling.

Italy made four changes following their opening 26-3 loss to Ireland, with flanker Mauro Bergamasco, lock Marco Bortolami, prop Alberto De Marchi and wing Giovanbattista Venditti coming in.

The expectation was that England, boosted by their Cardiff win and never beaten by Italy in 20 attempts, would waltz through the Azzurri.

But Morisi broke down Italy's left and Bortolami stole the resulting lineout. The ball found Italy talisman Parisse who surged down the left wing, sold Mike Brown a dummy and wandered past Anthony Watson to score. The conversion was missed.

Italy were punching holes through England's defence and fly-half Kelly Haimona kicked over for Andrea Masi to chase.

The Italy centre caught the ball, but collided with Brown as he did so and the England full-back appeared to be knocked out.

Brown required lengthy treatment before being taken off on a stretcher with Billy Twelvetrees on in his place, resulting in a backline reshuffle.

Twelvetrees went to inside centre and the midfield pushed out one with wing Watson going to full-back. The Bath back burst into the three-quarter line and behind the Italy defence, only to be caught by Parisse.

England struggled to assert themselves and were fortunate Italy did not punish some basic errors. Haimona was penalised for not releasing Luther Burrell after a tackle and George Ford kicked a straightforward penalty to make it 5-3 after a quarter of the contest.

England showed their forward power with a blindside lineout move. Vunipola, with support from James Haskell, barged his way for the corner.

Parisse and Edoardo Gori thought they had combined to prevent the try but the television match official ruled otherwise as England went ahead.

There was no need for a referral for Joseph's try after Chris Robshaw won a turnover. England spread the ball wide and Joseph, shifted to the wing, showed his blistering pace to score. Ford converted.

Haimona then missed two penalty attempts at goal, reprieving England after indiscipline at the breakdown.

England had another chance when scrum-half Youngs made an opportunistic break after the ball squirmed out of a halfway line scrum. The ball was moved from left to right, but May held on to it too long with men outside him.

Strong Italian defence prevented the forwards rumbling over before the break, with England going in 15-5 up.

After the interval, Martin Castrogiovanni and Bortolami combined to concede a penalty for not releasing Robshaw and Ford extended England's advantage.

England had the contest in their grasp, but released their grip to allow Italy to score. Leonardo Sarto collected his own chip down the right and the ball was spread quickly to the left by Luke McLean and Haimona to Morisi.

The centre stepped to glide by England forwards Dave Attwood and James Haskell and Watson could not stop him.

Haimona missed his fourth shot at goal. Had he converted the two conversions and two penalties, the Azzurri would have been ahead.

England responded through their forwards, who won a penalty at the scrum and Youngs sauntered over from five metres after taking a quick tap.

Masi fumbled the ball in his own 22 and Ford kicked England further ahead before providing the pop pass for Joseph to burst through and score his second try.

It was his final act as Cipriani came on for the Bath fly-half. Cipriani's impact was immediate as he latched on to May's inside pass to score. He converted himself.

Easter, on at lock in place of Attwood, then rumbled over following a rolling maul.

McLean tried to spark Italy into life with a chip and the ball bounced well for replacement Tommaso Allan, but he could not ground it.

Italy would not give up and Morisi went over in the right corner, with the TMO called for once more after breaking May's tackle. The decision went in Italy's favour and Allan converted.

Billy Vunipola bundles over the line for a controversial try © Getty Images

Enlarge