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Rugby Union

England stumble to victory

10/02/2007

England maintained a 100 per cent start to their Six Nations campaign with an unspectacular 20-7 win over Italy at Twickenham this afternoon.

After brushing aside Scotland at home last week, Phil Vickery's men overcame the Azzurri with a patchy performance that will have to improve for coming clashes against their three strongest opponents in the competition.

The first half was punctuated with fly-half Jonny Wilkinson passing points milestones with each of his three penalty kicks.

By the time he had slotted his side 9-0 ahead after just 25 minutes, the Newcastle stand-off had become the highest points-scorer in Five or Six Nations history, passed 850 points for England and 900 points for his Test career.

However there was little to set the pulses of anyone but statisticians racing in the majority of the first half, with the visitors ably containing what little attacking threat England could muster.

The only time the Italians found themselves stretched was just a minute from the break as the ball was thrown wide quickly and Jason Robinson gathered up to scamper over and take England 14-0 up as they headed for the dressing room.

If the first half was dour but effective from England, Brian Ashton's half-time words did little to lift the standard of attacking play as the backs failed to spark throughout the second period.

Italy imposed themselves on the game as their pack put the squeeze on their English counterparts and, after another Wilkinson penalty had nudged England's lead on once more, they got their reward 15 minutes from time.

Andrea Scanavacca capped a spell of pressure with a deserved try as he darted over from the base of a ruck that followed a break by number eight Josh Sole.

The try-scorer added the extras himself as a disgruntled Twickenham crowd seemed decidedly underwhelmed by the England performance.

A further three points from Wilkinson's boot made the final five minutes comfortable for his side, but it was a match to forget as Ashton's brave new dawn suffered a setback.

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