Six Nations: England 57-14: England keep title hopes alive

England 57-14 Italy

England tries: George, May, Tuilagi (2), Shields (2), Kruis, Robson
England conversations: Farrell (4), Ford (3)
England penalties: Farrell

Italy tries: Allan, Morisi
Italy conversations: Allan (2)

Match report: England thrash Italy

Manu Tuilagi led the onslaught as England kept up the pressure on Grand Slam-chasing Wales by overwhelming Italy 57-14 at Twickenham.

Tries by Jamie George, Jonny May, Tuilagi and Brad Shields sealed the bonus point in the 32nd minute to break Ireland's Guinness Six Nations record for the fastest produced by three minutes.

Tuilagi was a marauding presence until his exit in the final quarter and it was fitting that he followed up his first Test try for five years - his last was also against Italy - with a second soon after the interval.

Predictably enough, Conor O'Shea's men were overpowered with Tuilagi supported by the equally devastating Joe Cokanasiga, who set off like a freight train, faded and then finished explosively.

George Kruis, Dan Robson and Shields added final-quarter tries and it was a bulldozing run from man of the match Cokanasiga that enabled the replacement scrum-half to cross.

It was not until the 62nd minute that Eddie Jones decided to field Robson and George Ford and given the result was effectively sealed around the half-hour mark, it once again highlighted the reliance on Owen Farrell and Ben Youngs.

For England to now clinch the Six Nations title Wales must fall to Ireland in the final round next Saturday and Scotland must be swept aside in a bonus-point win at Twickenham.

They are well placed to capitalise on an upset at the Principality Stadium, while at the opposite end of the table Italy are playing to avoid the wooden spoon.

Aside from their resilience and occasional spells of effective rugby, there was little for them to salvage from their visit to London and the calls for a play-off for Six Nations relegation to be introduced will only grow louder.

The unusual sight of Billy Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler finding space with kicks lit up the opening minutes, while on the right wing Cokanasiga sent Azzurri defenders flying with a series of bullocking runs.

Italy's scrum was squeezed into giving a penalty and when England opted for the line-out, they drove over through George in the eighth minute.

The scripted start was interrupted when Tommaso Allan slipped between Joe Launchbury and Cokanasiga to wriggle over, ending waves of Azzurri attacks, but the response was swift.

Elliot Daly danced into space, evading flailing tackles as he went, and drew full-back Jayden Hayward to provide May with a simple run in.

Whereas Daly used footwork to create the opening, it was brute strength that enabled Tuilagi to burst through some feeble defending and complete the race to the line.

Tuilagi's power continued to torment crumbling Italy and once again he forced a hole in midfield that created the opportunity for Shields to score under the posts.

The deluge of tries carried on in the second half as Tuilagi helped himself to his second after a long pass from George offered clear sight of the line, but the Azzurri were then rewarded for some fine play.

They retained possession to good effect as they attacked the line and when the moment came Allan sent Luca Morisi over with a pinpoint floating pass.

Italy were displaying commendable courage as they came under sustained pressure, but eventually they cracked again when George Kruis charged down a kick, grabbed the ball and fell over the whitewash.

Cokanasiga was given his legs on the right wing and he drew his man to give Robson a simple try, before Shields completed the rout with a simple score from close range.

Reaction

England head coach Eddie Jones says he has a score to settle with Scotland next week after their overzealous celebrations of 12 months ago.

An eight-try, 57-14 win over Italy means England could still claim the Guinness Six Nations title, if Ireland can overcome Grand Slam-chasing Wales in Cardiff.

Jones' side will be seeking to reclaim the Calcutta Cup lost in 2018 in Murrayfield, which was followed by unsavoury abuse of the England boss at a Manchester train station by Scotland supporters.

Jones later admitted he no longer felt self to travel by public transport and felt pre-match comments from Gavin Hastings - the former Scotland captain said Scotland would love nothing more than "to rub Eddie Jones's face in the dirt" - were contributing factors to the disgraceful behaviour.

"We'll rip into training and be at our absolute best next week, because we're going to have to be to beat Scotland," Jones said at Twickenham on Saturday.

"We know that's their game of the year. We saw how they carried on last year after they beat us. So, we might have short memories sometimes, but sometimes you have longer memories."

Jones declined to elaborate, saying: "I just remember everything that was being said. That's all I have to say. I don't have to recite what's been said."

Manu Tuilagi and Brad Shields scored two tries apiece as England ran amok against Italy, who have now lost a record 21 successive Six Nations games.

Jamie George, Jonny May, George Kruis and Dan Robson also scored tries for England, who bounced back from their 21-13 loss to Wales in Cardiff two weeks ago.

Rarely short of confidence, Jones was even critical of his own performance at the Principality Stadium, but pleased with the response against Italy.

"I don't think I coached the side very well against Wales and I take responsibility for that," he added.

"Did I doubt myself? Probably not. I was filthy about the way I coached. I didn't coach well.

"I let the players down. It was good to see we got together, worked hard and got ourselves right for this game."

Tuilagi was in devastating form, while Joe Cokanasiga also impressed, although Jones would prefer a more conservative approach to handling from the Bath wing.

Jones added: "He did some good things. The one-handed stuff's great for you guys, but possibly he could carry with two hands at other times. He's a young kid with great potential."

Tuilagi showed why he is being linked with a lucrative move to the French Top 14 after the World Cup, which would make him ineligible for England.

Jones added: "We've taken his passport. So he's not going to France in the next week. I've got it in my pocket."

Italy head coach Conor O'Shea insisted his side are better than the result suggests and can finish on a high by beating France in Rome next week.

He said: "Sometimes you can over analyse things. We were overpowered. And they're an unbelievably powerful side.

"They were a hurting side. But they're the best side in the Six Nations, in my opinion.

"With the ball we caused problems and showed some really good moments in the match and we could've had more out of the match, instead of the couple of tries we got."

Talismanic captain Sergio Parisse is optimistic of shrugging off a hamstring problem to play in what could be his final Six Nations game.