England escape to victory

Italy fall just short in first Six Nations game at Stadio Olimpico

By Alex Williams - Twitter: @skysportsalexw   Last updated: 12th February 2012  

Owen Farrell Italy v England

Owen Farrell: Points from the kicking tee proved decisive

Tommaso Benvenuti breaks away to score Italy England 2012

Tommaso Benevenuti: Gave Italy a six-point lead just befor half-time

Charlie Hodgson try v Italy 2012

Charlie Hodgson: Second consecutive game with a try from a charge-down

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England overcame a major scare to maintain their perfect start to the RBS Six Nations with a victory over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.

A second-half try from Charlie Hodgson and a nerveless display of kicking from Owen Farrell helped the visitors claim a come-from-behind win amid freezing conditions in Rome.

A dramatic double strike from Giovanbattista Venditti and Tommaso Benvenuti had given the Azzurri a clear lead at the half-time interval before England managed to turn the tables.

The hosts rose to the occasion in front of a near sell-out crowd at the famous stadium but a committed display ultimately went unrewarded.

On a pitch still partially covered in snow and ice, England surged forward in the early stages but a promising move broke down when Tom Croft failed to haul in a Dylan Hartley offload close to the try-line.

Possession

England continued to have most of the possession but struggled to build any more meaningful attacks and instead it was Italy who briefly threatened as Luke McLean broke clear on the left wing.

As the game passed through the midway point of the first half the hosts began to dominate proceedings before an errant pass from skipper Sergio Parisse let England in.

David Strettle reached the loose ball to kick ahead before being taken out by Italy fly-half Kris Burton, with the subsequent penalty being slotted over by Farrell.

Italy suffered another setback when powerful prop Martin Castrogiovanni was forced off with an apparent rib injury and the Azzurri immediately conceded a penalty at the scrum, which Farrell did well to convert.

But they hit back with the opening try of the match soon after when Ben Youngs and Ben Foden combined to fumble a grubber kick from Benvenuti and Venditti pounced to ground it in the corner.

Burton's missed conversion kept England ahead but Italy scored again on the stroke of half-time when Foden's ill-judged offload was intercepted by Benvenuti, who raced away to ground the ball under the posts. Burton added the extras to make it 12-6 at the break.

Advantage

And the advantage was stretched to nine points with seven minutes gone in the second half after Parisse was impeded off the ball by Chris Robshaw and Burton nailed a difficult penalty from wide on the left.

However, England were sparked into life soon after as Andrea Masi was closed down as he attempted a clearing kick and, for the second straight match, Charlie Hodgson collected his own charge-down to score.

Farrell nailed a tough conversion to draw England to within two points before edging them 16-15 ahead when he sent a much simpler kick sailing through the posts after Italy had been penalised for offside.

The visitors had by now recovered from the blip and Farrell extended the lead by another three points when Farrell stroked another penalty over when Italy were adjudged to be at fault for a collapsed scrum.

Italy's replacement fly-half Tobias Botes missed a penalty straight from the restart before scuffing another attempt from the tee in the 75th minute, leaving England to sit on their lead until the final whistle.

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