Italy 9-40 England: Eddie Jones' side ease to Six Nations win in Rome
By Robert Mulhern
Last Updated: 16/02/16 12:17pm
Jonathan Joseph scored a second-half hat-trick as England beat Italy 40-9 in the Six Nations in Rome.
The England outside centre applied the gloss to an always improving performance, with George Ford and Owen Farrell also touching down.
England only led 11-9 at the break after a hugely encouraging first half for the Italians.
It was an energy they reasserted after the interval, but the game changed in an instant when Joseph intercepted a loose pass by Italian wing Leonardo Sarto to cross for an easy try under the posts.
The score was a painful blow for Italy, who had scrapped and fought for every advantage, only to cough up the softest of scores. And it was game-changing.
England had threatened to break into this kind of performance and, as if unshackled by Joseph's score, they squeezed Italy in the tight and then surged again.
Danny Care's introduction for Ben Youngs brought further injection and his neat dink behind the Italian cover sat up nicely for the on-rushing Joseph, who dotted down under the posts.
The score followed some well executed grunt-work at scrum and lineout, which must have pleased coach Eddie Jones because England were less than exact here at times.
The improvement continued, however, and England's momentum was further buoyed by the introduction of Maro Itoje, Paul Hill, Jack Clifford and Jamie George.
None could outshine Joseph, however, and the centre barged his way across the Italian line to register his third on 70 minutes.
England weren't done yet. Care was again involved before substitute hooker George offloaded to Farrell, who ran a neat line under the posts.
The four second-half tries followed George Ford's neat finish in the corner on 24 minutes.
For Italy, the result was hugely disappointing. Their determination was obvious from the outset, Michele Campagnaro trampling over Joseph and dumping the England centre on his behind minutes later. He was outstanding throughout and caused England discomfort.
But so did a lack of accuracy at the lineout, which was some way short of expected standards.
For Italy, Sergio Parisse was typically prominent, carrying hard and often, and their brand of Rome resistance was a thing of substance rather than a poor reflection on England, through the first half at least.
The difference between the teams, then, was Ford's try, a play he himself created from a high kick, which was fielded by Luke McClean until Mike Brown scuppered the breakdown and the play moved through Billy Vunipola to Farrell and then Ford.
Things still looked tight, but then Joseph glimpsed that game-changing chink of light that grew ever brighter.
