Italy's line-outs are looking pretty shaky. But they manage to keep hold of that one as the crowd breaks out in a rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport at Sandy Park

You feel that England need to be a bit braver with the ball in hand.

They’ve kicked a couple of times when you felt if they had recycled it they might have had more success.

Heather Fisher
2014 Women's World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

England are having to work really, really hard to get the ball back.

England are throwing everything at the breakdown but Italy stay strong for now.

Beatrice Rigoni kicks the ball over the top and it goes into touch, but Italy win a penalty. England are offside.

It's a longer kick to touch from the Italy fly-half this time.

Italy have a line-out on their 5m line. Can Italy clear their lines?

Emily Scarratt has hands on the ball and looks dangerous. She runs around defenders and gives a lovely back-handed offload to Jess Breach.

Those two are a devastating combination. England have covered at least 60m, but Jess Breach is tackled into touch again. So close.

Italy have their first chance!

Aura Muzzo makes a break on the wing and has fly-half Beatrice Rigoni on the inside. Rigoni looks to have plenty of room, but goes for a basketball pass out to the wing and the ball is dropped.

The Red Roses immediately win the ball back and work through the phases until they're up to Italy's 22.

Kelly Smith drops the ball and her opposite number kicks forward, but Leanne Riley is on hand to regather.

Image source, Getty Images

England's wingers are SO fast. Jess Breach has the ball on the right wing and runs past a couple of defenders before eventually being driven into touch.

Italy scrum on the left wing but England are too strong and drive them back. The visitors retain possession though.

Beatrice Rigoni sees there's no way through for her forwards and goes for another kick over. But the ball is fumbled and England get a scrum this time.

It's a rapid restart but Beatrice Rigoni puts in a good kick over the England defence.

England gather it after a couple of bounces and run back at the wall of blue. The Red Roses work through the phases, but the ball is knocked on by try-scorer Breach.

Heather Fisher
2014 Women's World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

It's been a great start from both teams, but England had loads of patience in the 22. Good strong runners, strong lines and a great finish in the corner.

That's really going to settle the nerves for England, we will probably see them play the ball a bit more now. It's exciting times!

England scrum on the halfway line. It goes down on the first attempt again and Leanne Riley goes for a quick penalty.

Returning centre Emily Scarratt makes a break in midfield and finds Kelly Smith on the left wing. England are inside Italy's 22 now.

Heather Fisher
2014 Women's World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Italy are looking pretty smart and they are working England. I'd like to see England getting back quicker, and it's a very even game at the moment.

Deja-vu. Sarah Hunter gets fingertips to the ball again in the line-out, but Italy gather.

It's a forward pass Giordana Duca and England play the advantage. Kelly Smith gets hold of the ball on the left wing and she's off!

She sprints through defenders to the halfway line. England kick possession away though and we'll come back for the penalty.

Image source, Getty Images

Flanker Giada Franco is causing issues for the hosts again. She finds a bit of a gap on the left wing. Italy are almost up to England's 10m line now.

A high tackle from Lark Davies gives Italy another penalty. They're going to give a line-out a go again.

England captain Sarah Hunter disrupts the line-out but Italy recover. The Azzurre are attacking just inside their own half.

It's rapid work from England off the line-out, sending the ball over to the left wing.

They're holding on at the breakdown though and possession changes hands again.

Italy kick to touch. This is a frantic start at Sandy Park.

Image source, get

Flanker Giada Franco gets some momentum and England players struggle to bring her down.

The Red Roses steal the ball back. It's almost immediately turned over by Italy, but England are awarded a penalty and kick to touch.