Six Nations Uncovered: England stars Anthony Watson and Sam Simmonds' fast show sets pace
ENGLAND began their quest for an historic Six Nations title hat-trick with a fun-in-the-sun romp in Rome.
It was in truth no more than a gentle warm-up act for the challenges to come but seven tries, including one for Owen Farrell who finished with 16 points, was enjoyable fare.
If they are still at the top of the table in seven weeks’ time, Eddie Jones’s side will have become the first team to win outright championships three seasons in a row but they know it will not be as straightforward from now on.
And they will have to reach the promised land without the guidance of Ben Youngs whose season could be over after he departed on a stretcher with a nasty leg injury in the 10th minute.
The scrum-half’s loss did nothing to knock England out of their stride at the Stadio Olimpico as they picked off their opponents at will with some precision attacking rugby controlled by the axis of George Ford and Farrell, a constant evil for Italy.
Anthony Watson crossed twice to earn the man of the match – “he got the Maserati out of the car park today” – said Jones – and so did No8 Sam Simmonds, who proved there is life beyond Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes after all on his Six Nations debut.
It is a different sort of life, based on pace rather than power, but it was mightily effective. No one carried more ball for England, no one made more metres with it and no one made more tackles.
He’s a great discovery for us, he gives us great options at No 8
“He’s a great discovery for us, he gives us great options at No 8,” said Jones. “When the game opened up he was in his element. He has got gas. He does all his speed work with the backs he’s that quick.
“He has a great set of skills. If he was a cricketer he’d be playing 20/20.”
Italy could not live with the white blur. Bright as they were in attack in scoring two tries of their own, the poor Azzurri ended up on the wrong end of another heavy defeat. It was by even more than their average 28-point margin prior to this game in the Six Nations.
That was a pity because they offered far more than in many of the previous encounters but their defence was a colander and, with quick ball aplenty, England exploited it ruthlessly.
They enjoyed a dream start with a slick wraparound move involving Ford and Farrell putting Watson in at the corner for a try after only two minutes and 58 seconds.
As soon as play resumed after the long hold-up for the injury to Youngs, England produced a replica move for Watson to cross for his second with Jonny May again the extra man in midfield.
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It was simple backline stuff, executed perfectly.
The Italians were sparked into life and Tommaso Allan’s floated pass put Tommaso Benvenuti in for a try which had the crowd in tumult.
Normal service was soon resumed though. With Italy’s defence at sixes and sevens, Farrell scooted through a big hole from Ford’s soft hands to score his sixth try in 54 Tests.
Despite looking like they could score every time they had the ball in their hands, England only led 17-10 at the interval. But Simmonds put the outcome beyond doubt – and secured England’s try-scoring bonus point – in the 53rd minute when he found acres of space after Courtney Lawes had won lineout possession and used his pace to run in his first try for his country.
English video official Kitt Rowan, perhaps wanting to get out of Rome in one piece having chalked off a score by Tomasso Boni for a forward pass by Allan, allowed a dubious Italian try in the 58th minute when Mattia Bellini’s knee appeared to be in touch as Mike Brown made the cover tackle.
But the Ford-Farrell axis combined again to bring England’s fifth try with 11 minutes remaining, as Farrell made the break and, aware as ever, swung the pass back inside for his fellow Lancastrian to cross.
There was still time for the sort of fast finish which has become England’s trademark as the sprinkles were applied to the gelato.
Youngs’s replacement Danny Care, who equalled Matt Dawson’s England scrum-half record in winning his 77th cap, put Simmonds in for his second try in the 75th minute with a beautifully delayed pass.
Then the Exeter No8 turned provider three minutes later, supplying the assist for replacement Jack Nowell to mark his first game for England in a year with a try after Ford’s vision had spotted more space wide out on the right.
Italy: Minozzi 6; Benvenuti 7, Boni 6 (Castello 80), Castello 5 (Hayward 73, 6), Bellini 6; Allan 7 (Canna 73, 6), Violi 7 (Gori 63, 6); Lovotti 5 (Quaglio 6), Ghiraldini 6 (Bigi 54, 6), Ferrari 6 (Pasquali 54, 6), Zanni 7, Budd 6 (Biagi 61, 6), Negri 5, Giammarioli 6 (Mbanda 50, 6), Parisse 7.
England: Brown 5 (Nowell 61, 6); Watson 9, Te’o 5 (Joseph 58, 7), Farrell 8, May 8; Ford 8, B Youngs 6 (Care 10, 6); M Vunipola 8 (Hepburn 73, 6), Hartley 6 (George 54, 6), Cole 7 (Williams 54, 6), Launchbury 7, Itoje 6, Lawes 7 (Kruis 58, 6), Robshaw 6 (Underhill 67, 6), Simmonds 8.
Referee: M Raynal (France).