England went into their Six Nations match with Italy as the only side to remain unbeaten throughout the competition.
The Red Rose have a Grand Slam title in their sights, but needed to get past an Azzurri outfit who shocked France on the opening weekend.
A win would have given the hosts one hand on the trophy, while the visitors were looking to push away from the wooden spoon.
In a tense finish, Toby Flood's boot proved enough to help England edge out the Italians.
Read how it all unfolded with our live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the final Six Nations match of the weekend, as England host Italy at Twickenham.
England have the title within their sights, and will be much fancied to extend their unbeaten run against Italy today. However, Wales win yesterday put them level on points with the Red Rose, and today's hosts can afford no slip ups at Twickenham.
Italy got their campaign off to a flying start after shocking France. Since then, they have endured back-to-back defeats at the hands of Scotland and Wales.
It would be some shock if the Italians could claim a victory today, with England having won all 18 previous meetings against Italy, spanning 22 years.
Here is another fact to back up the previous statement, England average 48 points, six tries and a winning margin of 37 against Italy at Twickenham. Wowzers.
More stats and records in a minute, but now, it is time for team news.
ENGLAND XV: 15-Alex Goode; 14-Chris Ashton, 13- Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12-Brad Barritt, 11-Mike Brown; 10-Toby Flood, 9-Danny Care; 1-Mako Vunipola, 2-Tom Youngs, 3-Dan Cole, 4-Joe Launchbury, 5-Geoff Parling, 6-James Haskell, 7-Chris Robshaw, 8-Tom Wood.
So Stuart Lancaster has made five changes to the side that beat France a fortnight ago. Saracens prop Mako Vunipola has been handed his first start, coming in for Joe Marler, while forwards James Haskell and Tom Youngs earn recalls. Northampton duo Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley drop to the bench in their places.
Replacement flanker Tom Croft is in the squad for the first time in 11 months following a serious neck injury playing for club side Leicester Tigers. Lancaster has also changed his half-back partnership with Harlequins’ Danny Care coming in for Ben Youngs at scrum-half, while Toby Flood replaces the injured Owen Farrell at fly-half. Gloucester’s Freddie Burns comes in on the bench.
Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi also start for the Red Rose.
Here are the England replacements.
ENGLAND REPLACEMENTS: 16-Dylan Hartley, 17-David Wilson, 18-Joe Marler, 19-Courtney Lawes, 20-Tom Croft, 21-Ben Youngs, 22-Freddie Burns, 23-Billy Twelvetrees.
And now, we have the Italy team.
ITALY XV: 15-Andrea Masi; 14-Giovanbattista Venditti, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Gonzalo Garcia, 11-Luke McLean; 10-Luciano Orquera, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Alberto De Marchi, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 5-Joshua Furno, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 7-Robert Barbieri, 8-Sergio Parisse.
The big news from the Italy team is that captain Sergio Parisse is available after his suspension for abusing a referee in French Top 14 league match was reduced. He's the main man for the Azzurri.
Parisse starts at number eight with Robert Barbieri joining him in the back row. There are three more changes in the forwards with Alberto de Marchi coming in at loose-head prop and Quintin Geldenhuys and Joshua Furno forming the second row.
Italy coach Jacques Brunel has also recalled Luciano Orquera at fly-half, with Gonzalo Garcia back at outside centre.
And here are the replacements for the away side.
ITALY REPLACEMENTS: 16-Davide Giazzon, 17-Andrea Lo Cicero, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Antonio Pavanello, 20-Francesco Minto, 21-Simone Favaro, 22-Tobias Botes, 23-Tommaso Benvenuti.
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Seven minutes to go!
The two sides are both out onto the field. It's fireworks galore at Twickenham.
Here come the anthems, starting with Italy. One of the best in my opinion, so much fun.
And now for England.
The anthems are done and dusted at a cold Twickenham, kickoff is imminent.
Chris Robshaw wins his 15th cap as England captain today.
REFEREE: George Clancy (Ireland)
AND WE'RE UNDERWAY!
Decent start from England, making good ground forward before misplacing a pass. We await the scrum.
PENALTY TO ENGLAND!
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England absolutely slaughter Italy in the scrum as the the visitors collapse. Chance for Toby Flood to get the first points on the board, it's a long way out.
PENALTY SCORED! England 3-0 Italy (Toby Flood)
Clean as you like for Flood, who puts the ball right down the middle from the touchline. England lead.
PENALTY TO ENGLAND!
Italy are penalised for sealing, but England mess up the kick to touch as it stays in play. However, Mike Brown charges down the clearance on the try line and dives on the loose ball, but it has just gone dead. So close there!
England are well on top, and are awarded a penalty after Castrogiovanni is deemed offside. The ball is put into touch for a lineout high up the field.
Italy are having to absorb so much pressure, James Haskell and Danny Care are bombing forward for the hosts.
Parisse makes a wonderful tackle to earn a turnover, before the Italians present Chris Ashton with half a chance. Scrum time.
England's variety is helping them gain yards, and Italy are failing to deal with it at the moment.
Italy are caught offside in the middle of the field, advantage is played but then brought back for England. They opt for the kick into touch, but they fail to put it out. However the Red Rose bomb forward, and Luke McLean has to scramble it into touch for the Azzurri.
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England have another penalty, this is surely too easy for Flood to miss.
PENALTY SCORED! England 6-0 Italy (Toby Flood)
A very easy kick is confidently converted by Flood to double the host's lead.
Italy are on the ropes already, but looking to make some ground with a driving maul from the lineout. They are awarded a penalty after England collapse the maul. Chance for Italy to get back in the contest.
Luciano Orquera to take the kick...
PENALTY SCORED! England 6-3 Italy (Luciano Orquera)
Comfortable for Orquera, Italy are back in the tie.
Lions coach Warren Gatland is in the stands. A number of England players to consider.
Italy break and come so close to the opening try of the match! England are caught napping and Parisse passes inside to Zanni, but the referee has deemed a knock-on. The scrum to come.
England dominate the scrum again, but a reset is due.
Early engagement from Italy results in a free kick for England. Flood comes close to missing the target again, as his kick looks as if it is going to stay in play, but it drifts into touch and England have the lineout.
Tuilagi is an absolute powerhouse, several Italians bounce off him as he charges forward.
England should have scored. Brilliant play from Flood, as Vunipola drives forward, Ashton is then blocked off before Goode offloads it to Flood, who goes over the line, but Italy are back in time to hold it up. Great last-ditch defending, but England should have gone over then.
The scrum is the result. The first one is stopped, George Clancy says that the front rows are both down too early. The theme of the weekend.
The decision is reversed, as England give away a soft free kick for early engagement.
England are blown up for a knock on, as the advantage is brought back for Italy. We await a scrum, near enough, on the Italy 10-metre line.
Italy win the scrum and Orquera puts a stunning kick out into touch up in England's part of the field. The Italians have recovered well from England's early dominance.
Cittadini comes on for Italy in place of the hairy Castrogiovanni, and England are awarded a penalty following the scrum.
England storm forward as Danny Care pegs it along the line, however England are brought back for accidental obstruction.
We are shown shots of Castrogiovanni with his hamstring strapped up with ice on the side, that is then end of his match from the look of it.
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SIN BIN! (Edoardo Gori)
Scrum-half Edoardo Gori is given is marching orders for obstructing Flood as he tried to get a hold of the ball.
Can England take advantage of the extra man? We have eight minutes until the break. Italy are awarded the penalty after England fail to release the ball, Barritt was brilliantly challenged by Zanni.
Italy are certainly not rolling over for England, and Parisse has been superb so far. What a massive coup it was for the Azzurri to have his ban lifted.
England look to charge down the right, Goode plays in Tuilagi who offloads it to Ashton on the wing, but the pass is deemed forward.
England have a penalty, and I do not think they will attempt anything other than going for the points, after a dominant scrum on the Italy 22.
PENALTY SCORED! England 9-3 Italy (Toby Flood)
Easy for Flood, it's three from three for him as England restore their six-point lead.
England live dangerously as Tom Wood manages to recover the danger, Italy have an advanced lineout though.
Italy penalised for sealing the ball off. Flood puts the ball into touch; one last chance for England from this lineout on the 10.
The time is up.
Impressive buildup work from England, especially from Mike Brown who powered through the Italian defence. However the final pass is poor, but England a penalty right in front of the posts with Flood.
PENALTY SCORED! England 12-3 Italy (Toby Flood)
HALF TIME: England 12-3 Italy
Flood makes it four from four as England take a nine-point lead into the break. No tries as of yet but England have largely been in control, they are lacking a finishing touch to their wonderful buildup.
Italy have defended very well after their shoddy start, and mounted one or two attacks themselves. But England will be disappointed that they are not further in front.
The teams are back out.
And the second half is off and running at Twickenham.
England need to be sharper in this second half if they are to make the most of their good play.
Toby Flood kicks a penalty into touch, and we'll have a lineout in the Italy half.
Tom Wood takes the catch well and then wins a penalty for England as Italy are guilty of tackling the support players.
Flood is going for penalty number five and this would be a huge kick.
PENALTY SCORED! England 15-3 Italy (Toby Flood)
Great kick from Flood, who beats the wind to land a monster between the post. Five from five for Flood, and England have a 12-point lead.
Lawes in on for England as Parling is forced off with a shoulder injury.
Italy dominate the scrum, and they have a penalty after England stand up in the scrum.
Orquera with a chance to double the Italians score then. His only kick so far this game has been good.
PENALTY SCORED! England 15-6 Italy (Luciano Orquera)
Easy for Orquera, he doubles Italy's score, and reduce the deficit to nine points.
Smart kick from Orquera to put Italy back in England's half. England lineout.
Care kicks up but not away, and Italy have a great chance to build.
TRY! England 15-11 Italy (Luke McLean)
Orquera picks out McLean who has oceans of space on the far side. He goes over to bring Italy right back into the match.
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL!
Orquera missed the conversion, but they trail by just four points now. England make a change as Tom Croft returns to action to replace James Haskell.
Italy feeding off scraps at the moment, but boy are they enjoying them.
Italy have absolutely crushed England in the possession count this second half, 86% they command.
Orquera prepares to take a penalty, as England are guilty of not rolling away from the ruck. Italy can come to within one point here. Robshaw is having strong words with his teammates.
Orquera pushes it just wide to the right. Let-off for England. Twickenham trying to lift the Red Rose.
Dan Coles pulls off an awesome turnover inside the England half, and they can break forward. But Flood's clearance is responded to by one from Orquera. It's a tense game at the moment.
Never mind a battle, this is a war at Twickenham. End to end stuff here, as England were stopped at the death, before Italy pulled of a turnover and launched an attack of their own. The game is opening up, which should really favour England.
Double change from Stuart Lancaster as Vunipola and Care come off for Marler and Youngs.
Italy's momentum from the attack is killed as they suffer a slight knock-on. England penalty.
We're going to scrum it down. England to take.
England power forward in the scrum, and are awarded a penalty. Well played there. Flood puts his kick into touch, and England can build from the lineout. The Red Rose beginning to launch an attacking platform.
England have a penalty advantage, but they are going to try and force there way over.
The attack comes to nothing, the referee brings back the advantage. And Flood has the chance to extend the gap to seven with this fairly straightforward penalty.
PENALTY SCORED! England 18-11 Italy (Toby Flood)
Toby Flood kicks his sixth penalty to give England a bit of breathing space.
Italy are awarded a penalty as the referee deems England to have a hand in the ruck. Tom Wood is the guilty man. Orquera puts the ball into touch.
Italy are pinning down England in their own 22 at the moment. The hosts need to come out stronger in this deep lineout.
Billy Twelvetrees comes on for Brad Barritt.
England are looking a lot better with Ben Youngs at scrum-half.
This game is far from over though. Italy drive forward once again.
England building. First they nearly capitalise on an Italy mistake, before Courtney Lawes is stopped late on. Italy race straight up the other end. Frantic stuff. Italy have the decision at the scrum.
Tom Youngs is off, Dylan Hartley has just come on for England.
Luke McLean, who has been immense today, goes off for Italy. Tommaso Benvenuti comes on in his place.
Seven minutes to go.
England defending well at the moment on their own 22, but are being forced to. Italy are working hard.
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Wow. Desperate defence from England, and they are rewarded the advantage after Italy knock the ball on.
England will scrum it down just six metres from their own try line.
Flood is forced to boot the ball out of play, but does not make much ground forward. England are hanging on here with just minutes left to play.
Italy lineout, one last chance perhaps?
Lawes catches, England churn themselves out of trouble and win the penalty.
Flood smashes it into touch to make ground.
Much-needed ground may I add.
Poor kick from Care out of the ruck on the 22, but Brown catches brilliantly to maintain possession.
FULL TIME: England 18-11 Italy
Well England hold on, and you can feel the relief cascade around Twickenham. The Red Rose didn't play well but are still unbeaten, ahead of their showdown in Cardiff next week. The Grand Slam dream lives on...just.
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Italy played superbly in the second half, and England really had to hold on. They recovered from an early England onslaught, and really took the game to the home side for much of the match.
That's it for this weekend of Six Nations rugby, but have no fear, we'll be back with coverage from the final weekend in six days time. Wales vs. England, what a match that will be. Enjoy the remainder of your weekend, see you soon.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
