England defeat Italy in Six Nations opener

3 Feb 2024 | 6 min |

England defeat Italy in Six Nations opener

England got their 2024 Guinness Six Nations campaign off to winning ways with a 24-27 triumph over Italy in Rome.

Tries from Elliot Daly and Alex Mitchell, as well as 17 points from the boot of George Ford secured the victory, as England held off a fine Italian performance spearheaded by Tommaso Allan's 12 points, and tries courtesy of Alessandro Garbisi and Monty Ioane.

Going in search of a first win against England, Italy set a blistering pace to the Test as full back Allan put early points on the board landing a long range penalty inside five minutes, and Gonzalo Quesada's men had their opening try shortly thereafter.

Breaking from inside their own half, Lorenzo Cannone led the charge deep into English territory before offloading to the supporting Garbisi to dot down under the posts, giving Allan an easy conversion to make it 10-0.

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 03: Tommy Freeman of England is challenged by Tommasao Menoncello of Italy during the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Italy and England at Stadio Olimpico on February 03, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ford reduced the deficit moments later after referee Paul Williams spotted an Azzurri infringement at the breakdown, and when Tommy Freeman made a line break, rounding Garbisi to put Daly away in the corner for a try, it looked like the hosts' dominance would be short-lived.

But as half hour approached on the clock, the men in blue spread the ball wide and centre Tommaso Menoncello cantered unopposed down the touchline before lifting a pass inside to Allan, who crossed the whitewash and converted the effort to make it 15-8. In doing so he became Italy’s record try scorer and points scorer in the Guinness Six Nations.

A pair of Ford penalties narrowed the scoreline as half time approached, Italy taking a slender 17-14 lead into the break, leaving Steve Borthwick's men much to do despite the men in white boasting a greater share of possession, as well as making more metres and beating more defenders than the Italians.

The visitors snatched momentum at the resumption, as scrum half Mitchell spotted an opportunity from the base of a 15-metre ruck, dummying his way through a gap and spinning out of tackles until he powered over the line. Ford's extras handed England a lead for the first time in the match, and on 54 minutes, his fourth penalty extended the gap to seven points.

Ford claimed his 17th point on 66 minutes with another penalty, before making way for Fin Smith on debut. Chandler Cunningham-South replaced Sam Underhill at the same time for his debut, and new England captain Jamie George left the field with six minutes remaining in the Test, which saw Maro Itoje take over the armband.

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 03: Ethan Roots of England runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Sebastian Negri and Niccolo Cannone of Italy during the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Italy and England at Stadio Olimpico on February 03, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Daly was shown a yellow card in the closing stages after tripping Menoncello, and Italy captain Michele Lamaro suffered the same fate minutes later for repeated infringements at the breakdown. Freeman made way for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to earn his first Test cap, and despite a Ioane try in the final play, England held on to register a 24-27 win - their 31st over the Azzurri.

Reaction

Debutant Ethan Roots was awarded Player of the Match, and said: "It's pretty surreal, words cannot describe it, it's pretty special. There's lots of new caps in the squad at the moment and Steve said 'just bring your point of difference, that's the reason why you're in the squad'.

"I was nervous, especially here, we know Italians are passionate and never go away. But we came away with the win. We stayed in the fight, but full credit to the Italians - it was a great game."

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 03: Jamie George of England looks on during the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Italy and England at Stadio Olimpico on February 03, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

England captain Jamie George: Really pleased with the endeavour, I thought the boys really dug in at times, I was pleased with the character showed. A lot of new faces in our squad. The blueprint in the second half showed what we're about. Defensively there were some fixes, and in attack we were more clinical and smarter coming out of our half.

"We pushed it today, it wasn't perfect, and we have to better going into Wales, but it was a good start."

Teams

England

15. Freddie Steward, 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Fraser Dingwall, 11. Elliot Daly, 10. George Ford, 9. Alex Mitchell, 1. Joe Marler, 2. Jamie George (c), 3. Will Stuart, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Ollie Chessum, 6. Ethan Roots, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Ben Earl.

Replacements

16. Theo Dan, 17. Beno Obano, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Alex Coles, 20. Chandler Cunningham-South, 21. Danny Care, 22. Fin Smith, 23. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Italy

15. Tommaso Allan, 14. Ange Capuozzo, 13. Juan Ignacio Brex, 12. Tommaso Menoncello, 11. Monty Ioane, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Alessandro Garbisi, 1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3. Pietro Ceccarelli, 4. Niccolo Cannone, 5. Federico Ruzza, 6. Sebastian Negri, 7. Michele Lamaro (c), 8. Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements

16. Giacomo Nicotera, 17. Mirco Spagnolo, 18. Giosue Zilocchi, 19. Andrea Zambonin, 20. Edoardo Iachizzi, 21. Manuel Zuliani, 22. Stephen Varney, 23. Lorenzo Pani.