England 59 - 13 Italy
Saturday 12 February 2011
England beat Italy in a thrilling 8 try Six Nations match in which Chris Ashton scored 4 tries. With Andrew Sheridan dropping out 24 hours before the game Alex Corbisiero got brought in at loosehead prop for his first cap. Apart from that change the team was the same team that beat Wales, the Italians made a few changes with noticeably Josh Sole and Edoardo Gori missing out.
First Half
The game started with a bang as on the 2nd minute Chris Ashton ran over the try line well dived over with his famous trademark swan dive that Martin Johnson forbid him from doing, he is a brave man! Toby Flood kicked the conversion which made it England 7 - 0 Italy. On the 4th minute Italy got a penalty which Bergamasco knocked over to make it England 7 -3 Italy, with a near try disrupted by world class number 8 Sergio Parisse, the next points came when an Italian player was offside and Toby Flood kicked the penalty over to make it England 10 - 3 Italy, the first ten minutes had been exhilarating. Bergamasco knocked over another penalty which made the game England 10 - 6 Italy so Italy had crawled their way back into the game with 2 penalties, I'm sure Martin Johnson wouldn't of been happy with that.
On the 24th minute man of the moment Chris Ashton grabbed the ball from Hape after good work by the England forwards at a maul and Ashton ran over the line for his 2nd try. Toby Flood converted the kick to make it England 17 - 6 Italy. While Italy were getting their breath back Mark Cueto who hadn't scored in 19 tests got the ball by running inside and getting a pass from Flood and the Sale Sharks winger ran over the line and the relief on his face was telling and again the impressive Toby Flood knocked over the conversion for an extra 2 points. Five minutes later England were at it again when Nick Easter bursts through and impressively handed off an Italian player and popped it to Mike Tindall who ran a very good line to receive the pass and you know what happened next.................Toby Flood kicked the conversion England 29 - 6 Italy. Just before the half time came Sergio Parisse took fellow number 8 Nick Easter out in the air which wasn't a pretty sight to see in the replay's.
Second Half
Three minutes after the 2nd half starting and Martin Castrogiovanni got sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes for slapping the ball out of Leicester team mate Ben Youngs hand as he tried to take a tap penalty, England started the 2nd half sloppy but Johnson noticed this and brought Matt Banahan on for Mark Cueto and Steve Thompson on for Dylan Hartley. The impressive James Haskell soon made a rumbling run from his own half taking many Italian's with him but got stopped by a last ditch Italian tackle, Chris Ashton soon got an inside pass from giant winger Matt Banahan and the Northampton Saints winger sped away and scored his Hat Trick! Toby Flood continued his impressive kicking to make it England 38 - 6 Italy.
The impressive combo off Ben Youngs and Toby Flood went off and Danny Care + Jonny Wilkinson came on. Well that was quick as Danny Care breaks an Italian tackle to go over the line and Jonny Wilkinson of course kicks the conversion over to make the score England 45 - 6 Italy. More replacements as Wood goes off for Leeds flanker Hendrie Fourie, Wilson on for Dan Cole, England's play becomes scrappy again with Sergio Parisse turning them from this a typical maul from the Italian's which is strong and difficult to contian leads to an try from Ongaro and Bergamasco kicks the conversion for Italy to make the score England 45 -13 Italy. James Haskell gets a pass from Hape and the Italian defence crumbles away and the flanker runs over the try line to tick the score over the 50 mark with Johnny Wilkinson kicking the conversion to make it England 52 - 13 Italy.
The Italians mess up an line out and Haskell gathers the ball who gives it to Banahan who passes to Ashton who was on his shoulder and Ashton burns the grass with his speed and graces the fans with another swan dive. Chris Ashton's 4th try today!!! Johnny Wilkinson converts to get the 2 points to make it England 59 - 13 Italy. Danny Care kicks the ball into touch and the final whistle blows what a game for England and Chris Ashton.
Full Time
Man of the match - Chris Ashton
England:
Tries - Tindall, Cueto, Care, Haskell, Ashton (4)
Penalty Goals - Flood
Conversions - Wilkinson (3), Flood (5)
Italy:
Tries - Ongaro
Penalty Goals - Bergamasco (2)
Conversions - Bergamasco
