England continued their pursuit of the Six Nations title with an emphatic 47-24 victory over Italy at Twickenham, showcasing a blend of attacking brilliance and defensive resilience. Several standout performances from both teams made for an entertaining encounter.
England Player Ratings
Elliot Daly (8/10) – A crucial presence at fullback, combining evasive running with intelligent kicking. His assured display in the backfield added stability.
Tommy Freeman (7/10) – Overcame a sloppy start to make a strong impact, using his power effectively and finishing his try well.
Ollie Lawrence (N/A) – Made a silky offload early on but was unfortunately forced off with an Achilles injury.
Fraser Dingwall (8/10) – Played a vital role in England’s third try, showing strength under defensive pressure and distributing smartly. A key figure in the backline.
Ollie Sleightholme (9/10) – A standout performer, excelling under the high ball and taking his tries with composure. Constantly alert and in sync with teammates.
Fin Smith (9/10) – Managed the attack masterfully, displaying fluent ball movement and flawless goal-kicking. A world-class performance.
Alex Mitchell (7/10) – Helped set the tempo alongside Smith, delivering a wonderful offload in the lead-up to England’s sixth try.
Ellis Genge (7/10) – His usual destructive self in the loose, making a notable impact on both sides of the ball.
Jamie George (7/10) – Missed a key tackle for Italy’s opening try but contributed dynamically on a milestone occasion.
Will Stuart (7/10) – Showed his power with a damaging run early in the second half and scrummaged effectively.
Maro Itoje (9/10) – Combined his trademark physicality with soft hands when needed, reinforcing his growing leadership role.
Ollie Chessum (9/10) – Relentless in work rate, causing problems for Italy at the lineout and excelling across the pitch. Player of the match.
Tom Curry (9/10) – Continued his superb form with strong support lines and dominant carries, playing a crucial role in England’s fifth try.
Ben Earl (8/10) – Fleet-footed and linked up brilliantly with teammates, capping off his performance with England’s seventh try. Reliable as ever.
Tom Willis (7/10) – Announced himself with a powerful finish, running through Italy’s captain Michele Lamaro to open the scoring.
Replacements:
Luke Cowan-Dickie (6), Fin Baxter (7), Joe Heyes (7), Ted Hill (9), Chandler Cunningham-South (8), Ben Curry (9), Jack van Poortvliet (7), Marcus Smith (9) – Despite an early introduction, adapted seamlessly, contributing sharply in attack, finishing a well-taken try, and defending intelligently.
Italy Player Ratings
Ange Capuozzo (8/10) – A bright spark for Italy, his sharp footwork and finishing ability keeping the visitors in the contest.
Monty Ioane (7/10) – Showed his pace and power but was unable to exert full control over England’s wide threats.
Juan Ignacio Brex (8/10) – A strong defensive presence and creative in attack, providing an important link in the backline.
Tommaso Menoncello (8/10) – Matched Brex in both defensive solidity and attacking intent, standing firm against England’s midfield threats.
Matt Gallagher (7/10) – Worked hard under high balls and remained a steady option in the back three.
Paolo Garbisi (7/10) – Managed the game well but lacked the attacking edge to break England’s defensive lines.
Stephen Varney (7/10) – Distributed quickly and controlled the tempo well, though under significant pressure from England’s pack.
Danilo Fischetti (6/10) – Struggled at times against England’s front row but remained a force in the loose.
Giacomo Nicotera (8/10) – Showed great tenacity in the set-piece and around the park, standing out in a tough battle.
Marco Riccioni (7/10) – Solid in the scrum and contributed effectively in open play.
Niccolò Cannone (7/10) – Played a key role in Italy’s defensive structures and was active at the breakdown.
Federico Ruzza (7/10) – A workhorse in the second row, showing solid lineout presence.
Sebastian Negri (8/10) – Brought physicality and aggression, making key contributions in both attack and defense.
Michele Lamaro (6/10) – Struggled to impose himself against England’s dominant forwards but worked tirelessly.
Ross Vintcent (9/10) – Italy’s standout performer, carrying powerfully and making a strong impact at the breakdown.
Replacements:
Gianmarco Lucchesi (7), Mirco Spagnolo (8), Simone Ferrari (7), Riccardo Favretto (6), Manuel Zuliani (7), Lorenzo Cannone (6), Martin Page-Relo (7), Tommaso Allan (7).
England’s seven-try performance ensured they remain firmly in the Six Nations title hunt, while Italy showed glimpses of promise, particularly through Vintcent and Capuozzo. The hosts’ dominance in key areas, particularly through Fin Smith’s flawless kicking and the sharp finishing of Sleightholme, proved decisive.
