Restrained: Alex Goode
England were left frustrated by a resurgent Italian performance as the hosts kept their Grand Slam hopes alive with an 18-11 win.
Six penalties from Toby Flood kept England ahead on the scoreboard as Italy recovered from a 15-3 deficit at the start of the second half to leave Twickenham on edge in a dramatic finish.
The Azzurri resembled the side that were so impressive in their opening game of the championship against France - hounding England in defence and creating ample attacking opportunities in the second half against an opponent who they have never defeated.
Only desperate defence from England going into the final 10 minutes kept the hosts clinging on to the lead, with all thoughts of a first Grand Slam in a decade put firmly on hold.
England signalled their intent early on with a penalty from Toby Flood after just three minutes - the Leicester fly-half coming in for the injured Owen Farrell.
Mike Brown came close to the opening try after Luciano Orquera's kick was charged down, but the ball eluded him as he tried to make the grounding.
The hosts enjoyed all the possession throughout the opening minutes but were unable to find the opening try, Flood settling for another three points to leave England 6-0 up after 15 minutes.
Italy responded on their first visit to England's half with a penalty from Orquera after an effective driving maul, lifting the voices of the visiting fans. The Azzurri supporters grew even louder minutes later when Alessandro Zanni burst down the left touchline after Sergio Parisse's inside flick - only for the ball to be knocked on.
England's large swathes of possession created another try-scoring opportunity for the hosts, but Flood's attempted score was ruled out. Italy then lost scrum-half Edoardo Gori to the sin-bin for taking out Flood off the ball.
The hosts' power at the scrum was again capitalised on by Flood, who added a further three more points after a fine break from Brown to leave England 12-3 up going into the interval after a frustrating half for the home fans.
Another Flood penalty at the start of the second half extended the gap and left Italy chasing the scoreboard, Orquera responding with a penalty of his own after England collapsed at the scrum.
Care's sloppy box kick was then taken out of the air by Andrea Masi and Orquera's delicate chip across to the left wing was snapped up by Luke McLean to score in the corner.
Giovambattista Venditti then carried down the right touchline to leave English tacklers on the deck, but Orquera's resultant penalty attempt fell well wide to the right - failing to make the most of a passage of play where England lost control.
The introduction of Ben Youngs steadied Flood and England crept back to a seven-point advantage thanks to another penalty from the Leicester number 10.
Italy however continued to produce some of their best rugby in this year's championship, finding space down the left-hand side through McLean.
It meant that England were clinging on desperately to their lead as time ticked away, until a knock-on five metres from their own try line led to a collective sigh of relief from the 82,000 crowd.
Twickenham expected a thrashing - the humbled crowd left booing and counting their blessings.
Man of the Match: A whole host of Italian candidates to choose from in defeat, with Alessandro Zanni getting the nod ahead of his captain Parisse, Masi and winger McLean.
Moment of the Match: Courtney Lawes' crucial line-out steal with two minutes remaining that helped England ease the Italian pressure.
Villain of the Match: Starting his first Test for some time, Toby Flood may have kicked well off the tee but struggled to get England's backs firing.
The scorers:
For England:
Pens: Flood 6
For Italy:
Try: McLean
Pens: Orquera 2
Yellow Card: Gori
The teams:
England: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Mike Brown, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 James Haskell, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 David Wilson, 18 Joe Marler, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovambattista Venditti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c) 1 Alberto De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Simone Favaro, 22 Tobias Botes, 23Tommaso Benvenuti.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
By Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
Well done Italy. when they're good their brilliant, when they're bad they stink. I wonder who'll turn up vs Ireland?
Posted 12:04 12th March 2013
trelawney says...
First of all, congrats to italy - they played really well and were unlicky.
Secondly - Who wrote this article "with all thoughts of a first Grand Slam in a decade" this guy/guyess has never played in a competative game where you do not think about the next game/round.
Now my comments on posters:
@mlbp - did you set yourself in front of the TV to track all he faults of the Ref, 4675 'hands in the ruck = 58 hands per minute - wow you must have super vision.
@chubbylugs - who is scw?
@jJamieTheProp - Great post.
@pjc1949 - don't understand your post.
@propmelsey - I suggest France as the weakest team.
@Trinats2 - go back to you brick dunnie/dunny.
To all you ref haters/slaggers please answer the following questions:
1) Have you ever attended/been on a referees course?
2) If you have did you a) scrape through or pass with colours?
3) have you refereed any senior games?
To all of you,
Please keep watching the game of Rugby Union.
Posted 01:17 12th March 2013
Coshie78 says...
lawnd... I am a Wasps fan, but have no club bias when it comes to England... As to being informed, well that's a matter of opinion I guess!
I totally agree Care needs to shoulder some of the blame, but 50/50 for me. Neither seemed to understand what was needed at certain points in the game...
Agree about Goode as well, his worst game by far. I think we need to look at Brown/Foden at 15. My preference would be Foden, he rarely makes a bad decision in attack and has the pace and outside break to turn half chances into scores...
Barritt didn't play well, if he is captain of the defense he needs to take some of he blame. Poor decisions to step out of the line, with that person often missing the tackle enabling the runner to get over he gain line. Pushing up on one side of the ruck, wingers stepping in when numbers in defense. What looked like a good system being exexuted well suddenly looks flawed. Hope it was execution not Italy's game plan...
Before the last 2 games England were a team of players that seemed to make good decisions as individuals that formed part of a great gameplan. In both attack and defense. When to follow the runner, when to work to get on the outside. When to hit the ruck, when to add numbers to defense on feet. Against France and especially Italy this seems to have gone array...
It looks like the coaches need to find a way to simplify it again and get everyone back in the same mindset. Compare NZ/Scotland games to France/Italy. Hopefully this can help the players refer back to making rhe right decisions by instinct...
Posted 22:34 11th March 2013
TVaddict says...
First of all well done Italy, your best display at Twickenham ever. I do think the referee was poor but not as bad as people on here are making out. Probably slightly in England's favour, but then again England were much more responsive to the referees commands so I'd say it was Italy's fault they were more heavily penalised.
Now for some criticism of England:
-I don't feel we showed up. From the first phase I felt we weren't running and strongly and seemed to be choosing easy lines (i.e. sideways). It seemed like they thought they could just turn up, go through the motions and walk away with a 40 point victory.
-Care and Flood were very disappointing. For two such experienced players they brought such instability to the team. Flood for missing kicks to touch and some poor decisions in attack. Care for his box kicking and slow service from the ruck. Unacceptable and both can count themselves lucky if they manage to get places on the bench next week.
-Barritt, Goode, and Ashton were all exposed for their lack of pace and attacking instincts. Barritt still put in a hard shift in defence so he redeemed himself in some form but the others should be dropped, especially Ashton. Bring in May for Ashton at least, with Goode losing his place to someone like Biggs or even Strettle.
-We lacked another strong ball carrier in the forwards so I'd bring in Vunipola at 8. Who cares about the Grand slam, let's develop some ball carrying 8s in this squad!
Posted 21:50 11th March 2013
lawynd says...
@Coshie78 - where it seemed to misfire for me was at 9 and 12, and also at 15 if Goode is in the team to be second receiver. Care's ball was constantly slow so HE should be looking askance at the forwards, not Flood. And shipping it out instead to your pivot to do something with isn't a suitable alternative. Coupled with Barritt (and Tuilagi) standing far too deep and narrow it doesn't surprise me at all that he ended up trying to run things himself, plus Goode was less than useless and nowhere to be seen at crucial moments, both in attack and on defence. Flood kicked his points and made the best of a bad situation.
I happen to think that he's never going to be as good as Farrell, Ford or Burns could potentially be and there are definite question marks about his mental fragility, but unfair criticism (mostly towards Leicester players...funny that) from the uninformed or blind annoys me greatly.
Posted 13:26 11th March 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Didn't see of much of it as I would have liked but probably the better for it. I did have a feeling that England might trip up on this one and despite all the chat, that Italy would have a good performance left in them. So England got away with it and maybe any overconfidence that was there has been knocked out of them. Flood kicked well but his passing was poor and ill thought out and he was trying too hard. Clancy isn't a hometown ref he's just not that good. England will need Morgan back against Wales, Youngs to start at nine and we may start with BArrett and Tuilagi but we need more guile and thought in the centre. Brown had a better game than Ashton despite being out of position ,, the latter really seems to be trying too hard as do Lawes at times (Needs to look and think) Care who tried to get things going when nothing was on. Haskell just doesn't bring enough to the game in terms of thought and execution. The Wales game will be interesting, They didn't play great against Scotland, but do know how to grind out a result. Ryan Jones just grafts away, no flash just effort and skill. AWJ a class act. Their backs are no slouches, so those who think next Saturday will be easy. Give me a break. Long term its more important that England play well next week no matter the result. This team are not really good enough and dominant enough to be put up there as genuine Grand Slam Champs, but then again neither are Wales. But you take what you are given. Roll on next w/e
Posted 12:24 11th March 2013
Coshie78 says...
lawnynd...
Sorry mate, I rate Flood very highly, but I think he was just as much at fault as Care yesterday...
One of the qualities I look for in a 10 is to identify when he needs his pack to take control, keep the ball in an attempt to turn to into quick ball. Tell his 9 he doesn't want it...
Intl 9s should know how to orchestrate the pack and have be well practiced how to do just that... Will not always come off obviously, then maybe use cut lines in midfield or failing that an attacking kick (good chase) as secondary options... That is basic dry weather rugby for me...
Too many times it appeared Flood had made his mind up he was taking the ball flat before he could determine the quality of the ball he would receive... Between them, both Care and Flood put the runners under pressure because of this...
Neither of them took control, when they should have been working together to do just that...
Everyone makes mistakes the missed touches were bad, especially to do it twice, but it they didn't lose us the match...
If I was SL I would watch the game back with Flood and Care together. Let them explain the emotions they were feeling when they made certain decisions in an attempt to temper them in future...
I do not want to take anything away from Italy, it was their performance which caused most of the above. However, as an England supporter we are within our rights to expect better...
Posted 11:36 11th March 2013
blametheref says...
Italy were good, but what's the surprise here, they've been good for some time under their latest coach and have been a bit unlucky at times, especially with goal kicking. Just imagine if they had a 10 like Farrell or Sexton, they'd be fearsome...England needed a game like this prior to the Wales fixture, which Ashton should be dropped for. Flood needs Twelvetrees outside him too and if playing with Flood the two centres need to be employed differently than they were against Italy, with Flood the alignment needs to be for wider flatter, quick ball. I reckon England will beat Wales because of this match which showed up any chinks in the armour at exactly the right time, and if they win the Grand Slam they fully deserve it as it will be a great achievement, as this England team wouldn't live with the World Cup winning 15
Posted 11:24 11th March 2013
kybone says...
Its easy to be overly critical of England yesterday, and there was a lot to be critical about. But lets not forget that Brown was about a foot away from scoring, Flood was held up over the line, and Ashton was scragged by his shirt by the last man about 5 yards from the line. If those three situations had been turned into tries i think we'd all be congratulating England on a job well done. Lots of small things went wrong which culminated in a below average performance against a very decent team playing very well.
mayhem- I think the point is that, while Wales have won three in a row to go into the final round still in contention, France, Italy, and Scotland have all put in their worst display of the tournament against Wales with Wales winning by being the better of two terrible teams on the day. With all four of England opposition so putting in arguably their best performance against England, they have had to be much better than Wales to get their wins.
Posted 11:11 11th March 2013
LondonWasp says...
intersting fact according to BBC sport website:
if wales win the match by seven points but england score 2 more tries during the match then both teams would share the title...
"An England victory by any margin would secure a first GRAND SLAM triumph in a decade.
An England defeat by six points or fewer would still be enough to SEAL THE TITLE.
It would be the same outcome if England lose by seven points but outscore Wales by three tries or more.
A Wales victory by seven points, providing they stay ahead of England on tournament tries, would see Rob Howley's men RETAIN THE TITLE.
If Wales win by seven points but England score two more tries then the TITLE WOULD BE SHARED"
...... interesting stuff...
Posted 11:03 11th March 2013
kybone says...
I think its easy to be overly critical of Englands display yesterday, and there is a lot to be critical about. But lets not forget that Brown was a foot or so away from scoring, Flood was held up over the line, and Ashton was scragged by his shirt by the last man about 5 yards from the try line. If those three situations had resulted in tries we'd all have been reasonably happy with the days work. Lots of small things went wrong with the result being a below average display against a very decent team playing very well.
mayhem- I think the point is that, while Wales have won 3 in a row to go into the final round still in with a shout of the title, France, Italy, and Scotland have all put in their worst performance of the tournament against Wales, with Wales winning by being the better of two terrible teams on all three occasions.
Posted 10:59 11th March 2013
chancer says...
Mr Lanaster has painted himself into a corner, wasted the opportunity to try new combiations and some real in form wingers, now going to Wales with new selections would be a very risky option
Posted 10:54 11th March 2013
Trinats2 says...
Any of this England team coming to Aus this winter ?
Was going to watch the Lions, but not going to bother now.
Wales could rest their first choice team this weekend !
Posted 10:51 11th March 2013
benski says...
@j615... Mallet, in fairness, could never get hold of a decent half back pairing, and that was Italy's main downfall through the Mallet years.
Posted 10:44 11th March 2013
Coshie78 says...
Humble pie for me yesterday... I wrote Italy off after their previous performances and a big well done to them... but they should have won that game, so I hope they are not patting themselves on the back too much...
England, however, were dreadful. The only positive I can see is that they can play that badly and still win... Complete lack of the fundamental Basics! After a positive start the game management of Care & Flood was non-existant... I have always had Youngs slilghtly ahead, but that gap widened considerably yesterday...
Flood looked out of sorts from 30 mins, trying too hard to impress I expect. Use your pack to pull in defenders!! Basics...
How many times did England have space & numbers only for 1st & 2nd receiver to drift onto the ball... Straighten and give, if my local side's U13s can do it, England have no excuse!!! Basics
How many times did we go off the top from lineout, flat pass to Tulagi at pace? Not once... The ABs knew it was coming and could do nothing about it, would love to hear the reasoning behind hitting Barritt on a cut line from a lineout!!! Basics
Mako V, great start to the game but then decided to accept the hit, if they go early, you go early, well done the Italians for getting away with it, he needs to be smarter. Clearly Marler had that instruction from Rowntree and he actually won the hit!! Basics
The biggest worry I have now is that England looked like they ran out of steam (and ideas) after 30 mins. The players looked utterly drained at full time and they had 8 days recovery for this match. Now they only have 6 until they meet Wales, who have an extra day. 6 days to put right the wrongs of yesterday and recover is going to be a mammoth task.
Before this game I thought England would be favourites for the Welsh game, now I think it may well be step too far... Please prove me wrong!!
Posted 10:26 11th March 2013
LondonWasp says...
@mayhem
wales havn't scored many tries either...
wales have only scored 2 more tries than england in this tournament. that isn't a huge amount...
Posted 10:11 11th March 2013
lawynd says...
@mayhem - Wales have scored seven tries, England five...do enlighten us as to your point? Also, Flood didn't dive, he had a player put BOTH arms around him and haul him to the floor. Plenty of you muppets were on here banging on about Farrell's 'elbow to the throat' of Parra and how he should have been cited even though it wasn't the case and Parra went down like he'd been shot, now you're suggesting Flood dived? Make your minds up, you look like idiots.
As for those of my compatriots sticking their knives into Flood, remind me, has Farrell never missed a kick to touch? Flood did everything he could today, I'm not sure you can fault a pivot who's number nine isn't delivering good enough ball (Danny Care was awful today and not just for that pathetic attempt at a box kick) and who's outside and inside runners were never, ever where they were supposed to be? Watch the game again without the anti-Leicester/Flood chips on your shoulders.
Posted 09:40 11th March 2013
Chinstan says...
Huge congrats to Italy took everyone by surprise, its great to have a situation where all games are competitive. Despite what most people on here are saying I think that this game was a blessing in disguise. If we had run in 5 tries and cruised to victory then we would have struggled to get in the right mind set for Wales. Now the players will hopefully be really up for it, having had a proper challenge on sunday and knowing that any slip up or repeat of that will not only cost them the Slam but the Champioship as well! It also means that the fans get an exciting finale. Bring it on!
Posted 08:55 11th March 2013
Frooschman says...
Poo-pooed Wales chances after their turgid display against Italy. Time to eat some humble pie. In the past two matches England have been very poor. Peaking at the right time is key in every tournament and while I still think Wales are misfiring they are at least on an upwards trajectory. England meanwhile are completely flat and utterly reliant on a massive defensive effort. A lot of work to be done in the next few days. This will be a close match. As it should be for the title!
Posted 08:44 11th March 2013
kybone says...
Well initially i was unbelievably frustrated and disappointed after this performance from England, but having had a night to think it over, i think all credit has to go to Italy. In the past England could probably have got away with a performance of that calibre against Italy and still come out with a 20 point win. I do feel like, despite his good goal kicking, Flood let us down. He missed kicks to touch which completely relieved the pressure on Italy. He also failed to get the backline going, time and again taking the ball into contact instead of getting it moving.
I can now appreciate the work that Barrett does, but the fact remains that he offers very little in attack apart from just taking the ball into contact. For me it would be difficult to be too critical of Ashton, apart from to say he just seems to have lost his mojo and maybe needs to go back to Sarries to try and recapture it.
I cant believe that some people are banging the referee drum again. He may have made mistakes, but i don't believe that any ref goes onto a field planning to deliberately favour one team, and i can't believe that anyone would suggest such a thing.
Hopefully England have got this below par display out of their system and we won't see a repeat next week. I really cant predict which way it will go in Cardiff. Anyone who thinks that Wales will destroy England just because of this performance, i think you're forgetting that Wales were equally as bad against Scotland, if not worse actually. Italy were much much better yesterday than Scotland were on Saturday. The only reason Wales are going into the final weekend with a chance is because their last three opposition have been totally abysmal on the day and Wales have almost won by default. Still, anything is possible on saturday and Wales are very capable of winning by a good 10 points, just as England are.
Posted 08:42 11th March 2013