England are in the Six Nations title hunt heading into Super Saturday after an impressive 47-24 bonus-point victory over Italy to close out round four.
Steve Borthwick’s side ran in seven tries during an entertaining afternoon and an improved attacking display at Allianz Stadium Twickenham, with Ollie Sleightholme at the double to go along with scores from Tom Willis, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith, Tom Curry and Ben Earl.
The result moves England above defending champions Ireland into second place in the standings ahead of the final weekend, when they travel to face Wales in Cardiff and will also need a huge favour from Scotland against leaders France in Paris.
Standard Sport’s George Flood was at Twickenham to rate the England performances...
England player ratings
Backs
Elliot Daly 8
Preferred to Marcus Smith at full-back, the hugely experienced and versatile scorer of the last-gasp winning try against France was dangerous with ball in hand with a couple of surging early runs before being moved into the centre following Lawrence’s injury.
Excellent kick to set up Freeman’s first-half try. Will likely need to start at centre against Wales with Lawrence out.
Tommy Freeman 8
Great burst down the right wing in the build-up to Willis’ opening try and then quickly denied his own by a great tackle from Tommaso Menoncello. Could have then set up another but his pass to Earl was deflected.
Did then score by scooping up and touching down a fine Daly kick. A threat all afternoon and still growing in influence all the time.
Ollie Lawrence N/A
A couple of strong early carries but went down off the ball and sustained a freakish early injury, replaced by Marcus Smith with just seven minutes on the clock.
A sad end to the Six Nations for England’s powerful midfielder, who will miss Cardiff and may also now be a huge doubt for Lions selection in the summer.
Fraser Dingwall 7
A surprise selection making his first England Test appearance for more than a year in place of Henry Slade as part of a quintet of Northampton Saints in the backline. Showed impressive speed, touch and anticipation to shift the ball quickly out left before getting hit in the build-up to Sleightholme’s first try.
A solid afternoon’s work all in all, if not too flashy.
Ollie Sleightholme 9
Has rarely had the chance to really let loose and show his attacking chops for England of late, but put that right here and scored in the corner in the first half.
Pulled off a delightful Pirouette to score his second after some wonderful offloads. Has real pace and guile when he’s allowed to show it.
Fin Smith 9
Showed his kicking prowess early on and exited from some tricky positions with real coolness, so utterly composed from the tee too until one solitary miss at the death ruined his perfect run of six from six.
Never the flashiest perhaps, particularly compared with his namesake in the squad, but so dependable and seemingly unflappable. Absolutely rock solid again so early in his Test career and dare I say starting to build a strong case to tour Australia with the Lions, as well as tightening his grip on the England No10 jersey.
Alex Mitchell 7
Kept things moving well for England at pace for the most part, catching Italy off-guard with his quick tap penalties. Lively.
Forwards
Ellis Genge 7
Warned by the referee for his reaction to giving away a contentious late first-half penalty in which he looked to have been tripped. Not his most eye-catching day but had some solid carries nonetheless.
Jamie George 7
On the occasion of his 100th Test cap, former skipper was left one-on-one with the fleet-footed Ange Capuozzo for Ross Vintcent’s amazing first-half try but can hardly criticise him too much there.
Stepped beautifully for Sleightholme’s second try and was given a fantastic reception both before the game and when he went off. A day to remember for only England’s seventh centurion.
Will Stuart 7
Gave away a scrum penalty late in the first half but otherwise solid again and produced a wonderful step and run before Marcus Smith’s try early in the second.
Maro Itoje 8
As physical in defence as ever, tried to score in the first half with his best Superman impression as he dived over the line after a driving maul but was held up.
Some powerful bursts in possession and a few great, inventive passes. Captain fantastic.
Ollie Chessum 8
Went about his work so effectively and diligently in the second row. His versatility is so important, particularly with George Martin injured. Such a canny lineout operator. Got man of the match on the television broadcast.
Tom Curry 9 - Star player
Having shaken off an injury scare against Scotland, showed his physicality with some big hits and typically fearsome tackling, also setting up Marcus Smith’s try after half-time before then going over from close range himself.
A weapon in attack, ferocious in defence and a terror at the breakdown. England’s player of the Six Nations, hopefully wasn’t hurt again.
Ben Earl 7
A couple of nice runs but not the busiest of afternoons until Ben Curry sent him through in the closing moments. Hurt early in the second half, taken off with an apparent knee issue but it must have been a blood sub as he later re-emerged.
Finished the game at centre after Dingwall went off.
Tom Willis 7
Another to have shaken off injury in England’s back row, showed his strength and power to reach out from short and touch down the opening try after running a great line and bursting through.
Replacements
Luke Cowan-Dickie (for George, 54) 6
Big shoes to fill after George’s withdrawal. Solid enough without pulling up many trees.
Fin Baxter (for Genge, 60) 6
England were notably flat for the final quarter of the match until Earl’s last-gasp score, so hard to say too much about many of their second-half replacements in truth.
Joe Heyes (for Stuart, 60) 6
Got around the field well enough but a mostly limited impact during a quiet period of the game for England.
Ted Hill (for T Curry, 56, Dingwall 70’) 6
An early charge down after coming on, went back off and then sent back on later for Dingwall. Not yet given a proper chance to replicate his stellar Bath form on the biggest stage.
Chandler Cunningham-South (for Earl, 50) 6
Had one really eye-catching carry as he clattered through the defender and showcased his power with ball in hand.
Ben Curry (for Willis, 45) 8
Always impressive at the breakdown with a brilliant engine and intensity. Stripped the ball and set up Earl for the seventh and final try of the day for England.
Jack van Poortvliet (for Mitchell, 64) 6
England had gone rather ragged by the time of his introduction, with Italy searching for late consolation scores. But will be thrilled to be back in the Test area.
Marcus Smith (for Lawrence, 7’) 8
Dropped to the bench by Borthwick but came on quickly after Lawrence’s injury and immediately involved in the attack.
Weaved his way through well to score England’s bonus-point try early in the second half and was involved in plenty that was good about the hosts moving forward.
