England have kept alive their Six Nations rugby title hopes by running in seven tries in a bonus-point 47-24 win over Italy at Twickenham, a win that extended their perfect all-time Test record against the Azzurri.
Going into the tournament’s final round next Saturday, England are now second, a point behind France.
It still looks a long shot for England, who face Wales in Cardiff, while France have a home fixture in Paris against Scotland and will be guaranteed the title with a bonus-point victory.
England can keep dreaming, though, after securing a third straight win in this year’s Six Nations on Sunday — and this time by a landslide after one-point nailbiters against France and Scotland.
But the bad news for England is that Ollie Lawrence will miss the Wales match and could struggle to play again this season after suffering an Achilles injury.
The Bath centre is set to undergo scans and see a specialist during the next 48 hours after going down hurt in open play after just eight minutes.
“Fingers crossed it is not quite as severe as we fear it might be,” coach Steve Borthwick said.
With the score at 14-14 just after the half-hour mark, a 32nd straight victory over the Italians wasn’t guaranteed – but England were ruthless in the second half.
Left winger Ollie Sleightholme finished with two tries — one in each half — while Tom Willis, Tommy Freeman, replacement Marcus Smith, Tom Curry and Ben Earl also went over. Fly-half Fin Smith nailed six of his conversions.
England’s only loss so far has been the 27-22 defeat at Ireland in the opening round, so the outlook is positive for coach Steve Borthwick and his players after consecutive losses to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in the autumn had put the team under pressure.
All England can do now is beat Wales — rivals on a record 16-game losing run — and hope for a favour from Scotland.
Italy had three tries, the best coming from Ross Vintcent when the No. 8 galloped clear after running onto an inside pass from livewire fullback Ange Capuozzo. That converted score brought the teams level at 14-14 after 32 minutes.
Capuozzo and Tommaso Menoncello grabbed the other tries for the Azzurri, who couldn’t manage a fourth try for a losing bonus point.
They stayed in fifth place on four points, one more than Wales in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon.
Italy close with a home match against third-place Ireland, who are two points behind France and one behind England.
Italy against Ireland kicks off “Super Saturday” before Wales take on England and then France, minus injured star player Antoine Dupont, tackle Scotland.
Antoine Dupont of France reacts as he receives medical treatment. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Dupont is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after revealing he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligaments in his knee.
The injury rules the world’s best rugby player out of his side’s final Six Nations game against Scotland in a massive blow to their bid to claim a second title since 2010.
Dupont limped off in the first half of France’s 42-27 victory over Ireland on Saturday after his knee buckled under pressure from the Irish defence at the back of a ruck.
“My heart hurts even more than my knee when I have to abandon my friends before the last step,” Dupont wrote in a post on social media.
“I’m proud of what we achieved yesterday and with all my strength with you, you’re going to do it. Rupture of the cruciate ligaments. This is the start of a new challenge, and I look forward to seeing you on the pitch in a few months’ time.”
France moved to 16 points, two ahead of Ireland and six clear of England, and any win over Scotland will almost certainly help them secure the title, given their far superior points difference.
Coach Fabien Galthie said France had recommended that the two Irish defenders who made contact with Dupont — Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter — should appear before the disciplinary commission.
Speaking after the game, Galthie branded the incident “reprehensible” and said France had cited both Beirne and Porter in their post-match report.
Dupont looks likely to miss the rest of the season, which is due to end in June. It’s also a huge blow for his club Toulouse, who lead the French Top 14 standings with 46 points after 13 games, one ahead of Bordeaux Begles.
Reference :
Reference link
