Six Nations / Italy 9 England 50: There was no golden trophy to collect but, in a way, England will derive as much professional pride from yesterday's Roman romp as they did their monumental triumph in Sydney last November.
To kick off their Six Nations campaign with seven tries away from home against a lively Italian side is a decent start and a hat-trick by Jason Robinson left a vivid imprint on England's blank post-World Cup canvas.
Even without one or two of their old masters, it was also a display which hinted this group of men have fresh grand designs. Despite the absence of Jonny Wilkinson and Martin Johnson, Clive Woodward must already suspect he is on the right lines.
Stiffer tests lie ahead, but most areas of Woodward's reshuffled team merited a thumbs-up. Paul Grayson slipped smoothly into Wilkinson's role and Lawrence Dallaglio, on his return as captain, did his utmost to fill Johnson's inspirational boots. By full-time there was even a try for Sale's debutant forward Chris Jones, but it was Robinson, his club colleague, who sparkled brightest in the Roman gloaming.When asked for his advice on the best way to stop England, Italy's coach John Kirwan responded bluntly: "Possibly a bazooka."
Between the 23rd and 65th minutes Robinson got hold of the ball in space on three occasions and cut through to score each time. It was an eloquent response to those who had queried his positional switch to outside centre.
His first try in particular was a gem. Having fielded a high ball on his own 22 he scurried right and fed Josh Lewsey, who made headway up the right touchline before hooking an overhead return ball back to Robinson. In theory the Italian outhalf Rima Wakarua had his man lined up, only to be skinned comprehensively as the Sale flier skipped away down the outside to score.
By the time the 29-year-old Robinson trotted back having scored his second shortly before half-time, England had the game in their pockets at 26-9, having soaked up Italy's early pressure and shown the first glimmer of what was to come when Iain Balshaw dummied his way over on the left after 16 minutes.
Even when Italy moved the ball intelligently the white defensive screen operated even tighter to the offside line than usual, with a pincer-like configuration making life even harder wide out. Only once, when the talented Sergio Parisse broke clear early in the second half, did a try look probable but he ignored Denis Dallan outside him and was cut down by Andy Gomarsall.
Instead England, looking to maintain their average of 55 points a game against Italy over the past three years, struck again in the 58th minute when Gomarsall switched play left at a ruck and Lewsey, whose Test career was revitalised against Italy last year, dummied his way over.
It was another reminder that while England's so-called new "back four" may not be long-ball kicking specialists they can certainly play. Yet again, England showed how radically their game has changed and the neat interplay between Ben Cohen and Will Greenwood which put Robinson clear on a 30-metre sprint to the line merely underlined the point. If Grayson needed a kind bounce for the converted try, which boosted his haul to 20 points, it was also no more than the Northampton outhalf deserved.
Even the usual rash of late substitutions could not disrupt England's momentum and Jones showed good alertness to dive over in injury-time.
ITALY: Masi; Mazzucato (Mirco Bergamasco 48), Stoica, M Dallan ( De Marigny 75), D Dallan; Wakarua, Griffen; Lo Cicero, Ongaro (Festuccia 65), Castrogiovanni (Perugini 72), Dellape (Checchinato 65), Bortalami, De Rossi (capt), Persico (Orlando 72), Parisse.
Scorers - Pens: Wakarua 2. Drop-goal: Wakarua.
ENGLAND: Balshaw (Paul 60); Lewsey, Robinson, Greenwood, Cohen; Grayson (Barkley 74), Gomarsall (Dawson 65); Woodman, Thompson (Regan 70), Vickery (Leonard 74), Grewcock (Shaw 60), Kay, Worsley (Jones 65), Hill, Dallaglio (Wasps, capt).
Scorers - Tries: Balshaw, Robinson 3, Lewsey, Grayson, Jones. Cons: Grayson 3. Pens: Grayson 3.
Referee: A Turner (South Africa).
