Defeated in the opening against Scotland, Eddie Jones’ players reassured themselves by dominating Italy (33-0), which conceded its 34th consecutive defeat in the Six Nations Tournament on Sunday.
Article written by
Published
Update
Reading time : 1 min.
Not particularly brilliant, England won (33-0) without forcing against Italy at the Stade Olimpico in Rome, Sunday February 13. Weighed down by indiscipline and clumsiness, the Squadra Azzurra could not do anything. In a game without much pace, cut short by approximations and in the absence of Owen Farrell – injured captain, forfeited for the Tournament – the English opener Marcus Smith (22) was like his team: in dilettante.
Author of the first test of the meeting, he opened the festival for his team (George 20th, 40th and Daly 45th), before she finally fell asleep. It took until the 73rd minute to see Eddie Jones’ players score again on a Sinckler try.
Thanks to this improved victory, England is relaunching in this Six Nations. A completely different challenge will nevertheless await him on the next day with the reception of a Wales which has also regained its colors by dominating Scotland (20-17).
Encouraging against the Blues, long catchy, the Italians fell back so deeply in their failings against England that they could only dream of ten short minutes. Then nothing worked for the Squadra Azzurra.
The scrum, solid at first, crumbled. Missed tackles piled up (21 in total). The handling errors multiplied (12 balls lost) and to make matters worse, the rare incursions into the English five meters all met the same fate: an attacker isolated from his teammates ended up having the ball stolen from the ground by the English scratchers.
The Italians concede their 34th consecutive defeat in the Tournament, and a 21st consecutive defeat at home. The series should lengthen during the next day. Kieran Crowley’s players will travel to Ireland.
