Watson, Simmonds star as England win

AnthonyWatson and Sam Simmonds both scored two tries as England launched theirbid for an unprecedented third outright Six Nations title with a 46-15win away to Italy at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico yesterday. Watsoncrossed for two unconverted tries early on but Italy recovered to be17-10 down at the break only for England, who scored seven tries intotal, to pull away in the second half. Victory meant England have wonall 24 of their Tests against Italy, with the Azzurri’s losing streak inthe Six Nations extended to 13 matches.An injury-hit England tookjust three minutes to open the scoring with a well-worked try forWatson. The visitors won a scrum penalty which Owen Farrell kicked deepinto Italy territory to give England an attacking line-out. They wonquick ball off the top and recalled centre Ben Te’o ran hard at theItalian midfield.Te’o also showed good handling skills to link withGeorge Ford on the loop and Jonny May made the extra man by comingacross from the left wing before sending in right wing Watson on theoverlap.Farrell’s difficult conversion from the right touchline hitthe post and stayed out. England suffered a setback, however, 10 minutesinto the match when scrum-half Ben Youngs went off injured.ButWatson soon had his second try. With fly-half Ford again involved in aloop move, and May once more cutting across, Watson sprinted clear and,with little room to play with, athletically grounded the ball despiteopposing wing Tommaso Benvenuti’s attempt to illegally shove him intotouch.Farrell was again off target with the conversion, althoughthis time the ball sailed past the far post. Nevertheless, an Italy sidewhere seven players were making their tournament debuts, while veteranAlessandro Zanni was winning his 100th cap, hit back with a 20th-minutetry.Outside centre Tommaso Boni and wing Mattia Bellini made goodground down the left before the ball was worked across field, wherefly-half Tommaso Allan’s excellent cut-out pass sent Benvenuti in at theright corner.Allan made light of a difficult conversion and Italywere just 10-7 down. But minutes later England were 10 points up again.Props Mako Vunipola and Dan Cole both made ground in a series of rapidbreakdown plays.Farrell then went onto the blindside and took awell-timed pass from replacement scrum-half Danny Care before easingthrough another gap in the Italian defence for a try under the posts.This time the centre made no mistake with the conversion and England led17-7.Late in the first half, Italy tried to catch England out byrunning a close-range penalty. England’s defence held firm, albeit atthe cost of another penalty which Allan kicked to cut the visitorsadvantage at the break to 17-10.But the question now was wouldItaly, as so often in the past, fade badly in the second half? Early inthe second period, Watson squandered a hat-trick chance when he lostpossession in the act of grounding the ball, although Farrell did nudgeEngland further ahead with a penalty.Italy thought they had hit backwith a try from Boni but his score was ruled out on video review for aforward pass by Allan. England then capitalised when No.8 Simmonds, onlystarting because of injuries to Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes,marked his Six Nations debut with a try when, following a line-out, heburst through yet more poor tackling.Farrell converted but Italy, totheir credit, hit back when Bellini squeezed in at the corner afterholding off England fullback Mike Brown. Allan missed the conversion andEngland led 27-15 heading into the final quarter.England put theresult beyond all doubt when Farrell and Ford, friends since theirschooldays, linked well for a 68th-minute try by the fly-half. And therewas still time for Simmonds and replacement Jack Nowell to crossagainst a tiring Italy.