England’s Jonathan Joseph breaks through the Italian ranks.England’s Jonathan Joseph breaks through the Italian ranks.

Jonathan Joseph scored two superb tries as England recovered from a stuttering start to hammer Italy 47-17 yesterday to make it two wins out of two in the Six Nations championship and remain on course for the first title since 2011.

England scored six tries and their backline showed some real pace and panache but they looked shaky in defence at times as Italy started and finished strongly.

“At half-time we gave them a rev up, we said we needed to up the intensity, and I think we did that in the second half,” England coach Stuart Lancaster told the BBC.

“I’m slightly disappointed that we didn’t do a bit better but I’m really pleased for Jonathan Joseph. He’s having a great season so far and I’m delighted for him.”

It was a very different atmosphere at Twickenham to the bearpit of Cardiff last week when England impressively beat Wales but home fans expecting a repeat of last year’s 52-11 Roman stroll were given a rude awakening as Italy captain Sergio Parisse scored the opening try after two minutes.

After a backline shuffle caused by an early injury to full-back Mike Brown, England eventually settled and, after a George Ford penalty, went ahead after 24 minutes when Billy Vunipola got the benefit of a tight TMO call.

Joseph, who made such an impression against Wales last week, again showed the combination of speed and step that has been shredding Premiership defences all season to score a scintillating second after captain Chris Robshaw, yet again, had forced a halfway line turnover.

Ford landed another penalty at the start of the second half but Italy looked livelier and were rewarded when centre Luca Morisi burst through for his side’s second try.

Flyhalf Kelly Haimona, however, missed his second conversion, having also missed two penalties, as Italy’s long-standing goalkicking problem again dogged them.

Then a lack of concentration after a collapsed scrum allowed quick-thinking scrumhalf Ben Youngs to tap and scamper over untouched.

Good work by Ford opened a hole that Joseph, shifted to the wing, roared through for his second before Danny Cipriani came on for his first taste of the Six Nations in seven years and within a minute was scoring a try after Jonny May’s pace took him through an impossible gap.

Fellow replacement Nick Easter then became England’s oldest-ever tryscorer when the 36-year-old replacement trundled over for England’s sixth score but Italy had the last word with a well-taken second for Morisi.

England now face a potentially decisive match away to Ireland next week while Italy visit Scotland.

Other result
Ireland vs France - 18-11

Playing today
Scotland vs Wales - 16.00

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