Red Rose Ratings: Italy 9-40 England.
England made it two from two with their second win of the 6 Nations as Eddie Jones maintained his perfect record as head coach. After a slow first half the visitors turned up the heat in the second to run out comfortable winners. Here are my full match ratings for the England team:
Starting 15:
15: Mike Brown - 6 - Another solid performance with a resounding confidence under the high ball. Kicked well out of hand and showed good desire with his kick-chasing. Will be disappointed he couldn't do more with ball in hand, especially in the second half.
14: Anthony Watson - 6 - A quiet game which will disappoint him. Seems to be lacking the killer instinct he once possessed. Worked hard under the high ball and restarts though so his commitment to the cause can not be questioned.
13: Jonathan Joseph - 8 - The second half was tailor made for Joseph and just the sort of game he needed to restore his confidence. A well taken hat-trick with some clinical finishing, would have perhaps been harder for him not to score them though.
12: Owen Farrell - 7 - A wonderful assist to create the try for George Ford and a touchdown for himself. Kicking was a little shaky from the tee but didn't let this get him down as he put in determined stints both in defense and attack.
11: Jack Nowell - 6 - Much like his fellow winger, Nowell was always looking to help out and get involved but found himself with few opportunities to get on the front foot with ball in hand. The Chiefs prodigy certainly isn't lacking the energy required for this level of rugby.
10: George Ford - 7 - Kicked brilliantly and dotted down to finish a brilliant try. Carried and distributed well besides a few stray passes in a scrappy opening at the start of the first half.
9: Ben Youngs - 7 - Looked sharp in attack and made a trademark break in the first half in which he was probably England's star man. Still remains nothing definitive to set him apart from fellow scrum-half Danny Care though.
1: Mako Vunipola - 6 - A solid game in the loose but England's pack looked stronger with Marler. The battle for the number 1 jersey looks set to continue.
2: Dylan Hartley - 6 - Will be very disappointed with a poor English line-out in the first half. Not entirely his fault but will need to get the forwards together and iron this area of their game out before the visit of the Irish.
3: Dan Cole - 7 - A characteristic Dan Cole game for the Tigers front row star. A big, intimidating display in the pack with some powerful scrummaging but is still giving away the odd silly penalty.
4: Courtney Lawes - 6 - A solid game but we are still waiting for the terrifying, marauding Lawes of old to return.
5: George Kruis - 7 - Big tackle count and an attractive offload to keep an English attack rolling forward. Will be disappointed to see a rare line-out go astray in an otherwise solid and encouraging performance.
6: Chris Robshaw - 7 - Resolute in defence and always keen to lend a hand at the breakdown, a key cog in the reason Italy never crossed the whitewash.
7: James Haskell - 7 - Another match, another set of big hits. Immensely physical at the breakdown and in defence, is probably one of the reasons Italy were so drained and tired come the second half.
8: Billy Vunipola - 8 - Proving to be England's star man nowadays. Going toe-to-toe with Parisse proved no problem at all for the Saracens man as he posted impressive figures on either side of the ball.
Subs:
Jamie George - 7
Joe Marler - 7
Paul Hill - 6
Joe Launchbury - 6
Maro Itoje - 7
Jack Clifford - 6
Danny Care - 7
Alex Goode - 6
Henry Justice
Starting 15:
15: Mike Brown - 6 - Another solid performance with a resounding confidence under the high ball. Kicked well out of hand and showed good desire with his kick-chasing. Will be disappointed he couldn't do more with ball in hand, especially in the second half.
14: Anthony Watson - 6 - A quiet game which will disappoint him. Seems to be lacking the killer instinct he once possessed. Worked hard under the high ball and restarts though so his commitment to the cause can not be questioned.
13: Jonathan Joseph - 8 - The second half was tailor made for Joseph and just the sort of game he needed to restore his confidence. A well taken hat-trick with some clinical finishing, would have perhaps been harder for him not to score them though.
12: Owen Farrell - 7 - A wonderful assist to create the try for George Ford and a touchdown for himself. Kicking was a little shaky from the tee but didn't let this get him down as he put in determined stints both in defense and attack.
11: Jack Nowell - 6 - Much like his fellow winger, Nowell was always looking to help out and get involved but found himself with few opportunities to get on the front foot with ball in hand. The Chiefs prodigy certainly isn't lacking the energy required for this level of rugby.
10: George Ford - 7 - Kicked brilliantly and dotted down to finish a brilliant try. Carried and distributed well besides a few stray passes in a scrappy opening at the start of the first half.
9: Ben Youngs - 7 - Looked sharp in attack and made a trademark break in the first half in which he was probably England's star man. Still remains nothing definitive to set him apart from fellow scrum-half Danny Care though.
1: Mako Vunipola - 6 - A solid game in the loose but England's pack looked stronger with Marler. The battle for the number 1 jersey looks set to continue.
2: Dylan Hartley - 6 - Will be very disappointed with a poor English line-out in the first half. Not entirely his fault but will need to get the forwards together and iron this area of their game out before the visit of the Irish.
3: Dan Cole - 7 - A characteristic Dan Cole game for the Tigers front row star. A big, intimidating display in the pack with some powerful scrummaging but is still giving away the odd silly penalty.
4: Courtney Lawes - 6 - A solid game but we are still waiting for the terrifying, marauding Lawes of old to return.
5: George Kruis - 7 - Big tackle count and an attractive offload to keep an English attack rolling forward. Will be disappointed to see a rare line-out go astray in an otherwise solid and encouraging performance.
6: Chris Robshaw - 7 - Resolute in defence and always keen to lend a hand at the breakdown, a key cog in the reason Italy never crossed the whitewash.
7: James Haskell - 7 - Another match, another set of big hits. Immensely physical at the breakdown and in defence, is probably one of the reasons Italy were so drained and tired come the second half.
8: Billy Vunipola - 8 - Proving to be England's star man nowadays. Going toe-to-toe with Parisse proved no problem at all for the Saracens man as he posted impressive figures on either side of the ball.
Subs:
Jamie George - 7
Joe Marler - 7
Paul Hill - 6
Joe Launchbury - 6
Maro Itoje - 7
Jack Clifford - 6
Danny Care - 7
Alex Goode - 6
Henry Justice
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