Slade helps England to victory over Italy

By Mark Stevens
12/2/23

England earned a first win of Steve Borthwick's tenure with a 31-14 win over Italy in the Six Nations Championship at Twickenham.

A week after coming unstuck against Scotland, England - who included Exeter Chiefs star Henry Slade in their starting line-up - claimed their 30th win in 30 meetings with Italy to lift themselves to third in the table, above defending champions France on points difference, while Italy drop down to fifth.

Flanker Jack Willis marked his return to the side with an opening try before lock Ollie Chessum powered over for the second. HookerJamie George added a third from close range, but Italy hit back after the break through Marco Riccioni.

A penalty try sealed the bonus and Henry Arundell scored a fifth, before Alessandro Fusco claimed a consolation.

Post-match, Borthwick praised his side’s showing, but insisted there is still more to come from them ahead of their clash with Wales in Cardiff on February 25.

"I think there was positive steps forward and credit to the players for making the improvements, we are trying to rebuild this team," said Borthwick. "There was a lot of disappointment after the result last weekend because there was an opportunity to win a game and we let it slip, but the players worked hard to remedy that and as we rebuild, we have to find what works for this team.

“I sat in this chair eight weeks ago and said we have a lot to improve and lots to work on,” said Borthwick, recalling his first duties as head coach on December 19.

“One of those areas was definitely the set-piece. We’ve shown development in the scrum and the maul, but even then we still got turned over in one maul. And we lost the last scrum in a way that shouldn’t happen.

“Let’s be clear, I’m pleased, I’m really proud of the players but we’ve got to be better than that. That’s the first layer on rebuilding this team. We’re going to make mistakes, and I’m going to ask the players to cope with those mistakes and still find ways to win.”

Borthwick promoted Ollie Lawrence to starting at inside centre, and the Bath man made a huge impact in the midfield alongside Slade in a Player of the Match performance.

"Ollie has been in tremendous form," added Borthwick. "He earned the selection and I asked him to play in the manner and strengths he has shown week-in-week-out for Bath and I think he did that today."