Abby Brammell

By Chris Foy

Breakthrough: Mathew Tait breaks the Italian defence for the only try of the game


England maintained their winning start to this season's RBS Six Nations, but that is the sum total of the good news. This was the day when fear seized Martin Johnson's team in its stifling grip once more.

The cautious hope of Twickenham eight days earlier - when there were encouraging signs of revival, three tries and victory in the face of a Welsh fightback - gave way to a rude awakening in the Italian capital.

This dismal match and insipid performance from the England team was a reminder that they are many a mile from being a potent force, let alone the finished article.


Having taken a tentative step forwards at home, they promptly took four or five backwards here. This was a victory for a side commanded by Johnson and sealed by a right-footed drop goal from Jonny Wilkinson, but there the similarities with the 2003 World Cup final triumph over Australia abruptly end.

Back then, England were a champion unit awash with self-confidence. On this evidence, the class of 2010 are so tense and timid as to be afraid of their own shadows. Either that, or they are being ordered to keep playing as if the weight of the world is upon them.

In the dying minutes at the Stadio Flaminio, Wilkinson knocked over his latest drop goal with commendable fluency, given the way he had kicked until that stage. Behind the posts, fans in English white cavorted in celebration, but their reactions were born of relief, not euphoria or triumphalism.

That precious strike took the sting out of an Italian revival after the hosts had gradually realised that they could do more than just contain their supposedly superior opponents, they could outplay them.


Nowhere to hide: Wilkinson's expression spoke volumes at the final whistle


Once the Azzurri had cottoned on to the fact that England were intent on kicking away any advantage they had, they started turning the screw and almost pulled off a major upset.

Two Mirco Bergamasco penalties took Italy within range of victory at 12-14 with seven minutes left and the crowd stirring up a storm of noise as they sensed history in the making.


England showed just enough composure to drive strongly on the right from a lineout and after James Haskell had pounded on into the 22, Wilkinson eased into a familiar routine - drop back into the pocket, take the pass, take aim and fire.


Yet Italian tails were up and they kept coming, forcing Johnson's rattled team to cling on, knowing one false move would throw it all away.

So they ground it out and, from a scrum on the left, replacement scrum half Paul Hodgson passed left for Delon Armitage to kick the ball out and end the agony. It was a fittingly feeble finale and the crescendo of boos that tumbled down from the stands represented so much fair comment.

This should never have come down to a photo finish. It should have been a horribly one-sided affair. Italy, with no real Test-class backs, were content - as ever - to boot the ball away and settle for scrapping and niggling and harrying and hoping.


They used their mighty pack to pressurise England at the breakdown. Their forwards, Alessandro Zanni and Marco Bortolami being the most prominent, gave them driving momentum.


But England played into their hands by allowing caution to drain the confidence gained from that important win over Wales. Far too often, they lapsed back into the awful pattern that scarred their autumn series - if in doubt, punt. Anywhere will do. It was aimless, horrendous and utterly ineffective.

It was brainless ping-pong. At Twickenham, Danny Care's precise box-kicks had tormented the Welsh and set a platform for so many of England's attacks.

Here, Wilkinson - mostly - but also Riki Flutey, Mat Tait, Mark Cueto, Ugo Monye and Armitage kicked long. But they kicked to men, not to space, and without the back-up of a strong, co-ordinated chase.

England held the upper hand at the lineout but there weren't enough touch-finders to exploit that Italian weakness.


Trusty right boot: All of Italy's points came from Mirco Bergamasco


The worst indictment of all was that they knew there was a better way. When Wilkinson released his outside backs early, they attacked from deep with real conviction.

Armitage banished the lapses from last week by gliding into space with effortless ease and linking well with Cueto, Tait and Monye. There were some moments of slick interplay between the wide men, there was vision and pace, clever running angles and off-loads.

England made five clean line-breaks to show that there was enough menace in them to trouble their hosts. Such a shame that having bared their teeth a few times, particularly in the first half, they didn't sustain the spirit of adventure that may have served them so well.


Boxed in: Italy hack clear but England were only too happy to return possession

There was one try to savour and it was a fleeting glimpse of what Johnson's team can achieve when they have the belief to back themselves and override their defensive default mode.

Simon Shaw off-loaded to Wilkinson in England's half and in a flash, Cueto and Nick Easter had combined on the left to send Monye clear. He broke a tackle and found Armitage in support, then the full back passed back out for Tait to hold off Tito Tebaldi and race over.

Wilkinson missed the conversion, along with two penalties, but he still registered four kicks to drag his side to their target - a precious away win.

Theoretically, England remain in title contention but, if they don't banish the fear or show a willingness and ability to adapt on the hoof when the gameplan isn't working, such a grand goal will be no more than an idle fantasy.





source: dailymail