Summary

  • Seven-try England secure bonus-point win to go second in Six Nations standings

  • Steve Borthwick's side face Wales in Cardiff next weekend hoping to pip championship leaders France to the title

  • England pulled away in second half at Allianz Stadium after leading 21-17 at half-time

  • Marcus Smith replaced injured Ollie Lawrence in first 10 minutes

  • Get involved: #bbcrugby, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. England keep alive Six Nations title hopes with seven-try winpublished at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    Media caption,

    England keep alive Six Nations title hopes with seven-try win

    That's all from us today as England head off the pitch to celebrate a convincing victory and the life and times of their latest centurion Jamie George.

    You can read my colleague Mike Henson's full match report from the Allianz Stadium here.

    A reminder, you can tune in to BBC Two at 18:30 GMT for a comprehensive review of round four on Six Nations Rugby Special, while we'll also have another episode of Rugby Union Weekly available later here.

    For all of the latest rugby news and for match highlights, visit the rugby page over on the BBC Sport website here.

    We're all set for a thrilling conclusion to this year's Six Nations with France, Ireland and England all in contention to win the title.

    See you next week for a busy Super Saturday!

    Media caption,

    'Spectacular handling!' - centurion George assists England's sixth try

    Jamie GeorgeImage source, Getty Images
  2. Watch: Borthwick revels in England's winpublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    Fancy hearing a bit more from the England head coach?

    Here is he talking to the BBC's Sonja McLaughlan...

    Media caption,

    Borthwick pleased with scoring 'acceleration' after half-time

    Media caption,

    George 'thankful' for 'very special day'

  3. 'Chessum was ill at the start of the week'published at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    England Rugby

    England head coach Steve Bostwick, speaking to BBC Sport on player of the match Ollie Chessum: "Ollie Chessum was ill at the start of the week and was battling to recover. He didn't train at the start of the week. He played really tough today. He will be really proud of the manner he went about his week."

    Ollie Chessum running with the ballImage source, Getty Images
  4. England win at a canterpublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    England scored seven tries to cruise past Italy and claim a clean sweep of three home wins in this year's Six Nations.

    Victory for the hosts, who were led out by Jamie George on his 100th England cap, maintains their title ambitions going into the final round of matches.

    Here's a reminder of the schedule for Super Saturday...

    Saturday, 15 March

    Italy v Ireland (14:15)

    Wales v England (16:45)

    France v Scotland (20:00)

    *all times are GMT

  5. 'It will be their World Cup final'published at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    England Rugby

    England centurion Jamie George, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was so special and a memory that will last a lifetime. I am so grateful for everyone in the team, my family and friends.

    "Generally we felt in control. We didn't feel panicked at any stage and knew what needed to be done. We knew we had to take control of the ball a little bit more.

    "To come away with a result like that is hugely important."

    On Wales: "It will be their World Cup final and we are going there to win the tournament."

  6. 'The team is progressing and developing'published at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    England Rugby

    England head coach Steve Borthwick, speaking to BBC Sport: "We are pleased with plenty of those scores.

    "The injury to Ollie Lawrence resulted in an reorganisation of the backline but I thought the players managed that really well. It looks like he injured his Achilles but we don't know to what extent.

    "The way the team accelerated the scoreline was really good. This Italian side is really well coached and their battle at the breakdown is fierce. When we got quick ball and the contact area right, we took our opportunities."

    "The team is progressing and developing. It is a young side and it adapted really well."

    On Wales: "I am looking forward to it. It is a fantastic place to play rugby, we will recover well and start looking forward to that game."

    Steve BorthwickImage source, Getty Images
  7. 'George is an absolute legend'published at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    England Rugby

    England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, speaking to BBC Sport: "We were trying to play a lot more. We got seven tries so something went right. A few things to fix but a good performance.

    "We tried to attack from anywhere. We knew it was going to be risky but we want to show the fans that we don't want to kick as much and play with the ball.

    "We look at having single digits for penalties and I think we did that. We will see where we can drop that number too."

    On Jamie George winning 100 caps: "He is absolute legend. I played behind him for a long time. He showed his quality today."

    On the Six Nations title race: "We just want to win as many games as we can. The first one didn't go to plan but we've won the last three."

  8. Watch: Six Nations Rugby Specialpublished at 17:35 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    BBC Two

    If you're still not yet rugby'd out after another thrilling weekend, we'll have a review of all of the action over on BBC Two at 18:30 GMT...

    Tune in shortly!

  9. 'I love playing for England and I will remember that for a very long time'published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    Speaking to ITV1, England centurion Jamie George said: "We were happy with our intent to get our attacking game going. It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but our intent to move the ball and get bums off seats is what we were trying to do.

    "The first half was a bit messy but the first 20 minutes of the second-half is probably the blueprint of how we want to play.

    "I said to myself this week I really wanted to enjoy the whole week. It's been really emotional. To be able to walk out with my daughter, who turned one last week, was pretty special.

    "The reception I got from the fans, I really felt today. I love playing for England and I will remember that for a very long time."

    Jamie GeorgeImage source, Getty Images
  10. 'We wanted to get five points'published at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    England Rugby

    England captain Maro Itoje, speaking to ITV: "We wanted to get five points and win the game. As always with games of rugby we wanted to be better in periods and tighten up our defence a little.

    "We wanted to move the ball, find space and be aggressive with ball in hand."

    On potentially winning the title against Wales if results go their way: "We just have to do what we have to do. Wales in Cardiff is a massive game, it is a tough place to go."

    Maro Itoje running with the ballImage source, Getty Images
  11. 'England became a little easy to read'published at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    Matt Dawson
    Listen to 2003 World Cup winner on BBC Sport website and app

    It has been a while since England have had a comprehensive margin like this.

    That injury to Ollie Lawrence very early on, when everything was going well, shows something as they lost that dynamism and punch up the middle to then go wide.

    They then became a little easy to read.

  12. Stat checkpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    England-Italy

    Possession: 58%-42%

    Tries: 7-3

    Metres carried: 936-511

    Line breaks: 10-5

    Defenders beaten: 36-21

    Offloads: 11-3

    Penalties conceded: 14-11

  13. 'We had some brilliant moments but we switched off in periods'published at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    Speaking to ITV1, Italy captain Michele Lamaro said: "We lost a bit of consistency during the game.

    "We had some brilliant moments but we switched off in periods. At the start of the second-half we conceded two clear opportunities and they are great team so they took them.

    "We need to work on that and we have been saying it a lot but we need to look to ourselves and stay together because we have another massive week and a short period to turn it around.

    "Even in the first half we conceded a few tries we could’ve controlled. We went in 21-17 but the tries we conceded were all on something we spoke about in the week. We were short on the edges and we weren’t able to defend them."

  14. 'The coaches allowed us to be free'published at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    England Rugby

    Player of the match Ollie Chessum, speaking to ITV: "We wanted to free ourselves up and put some scores on the board, especially with it being Jamie George's 100th cap.

    "We always want to score points but have found that difficult in the last couple of games. The coaches allowed us to be free."

    On potentially winning the title against Wales if results go their way: "We just have to take care of what we can next week, Wales away is always a massive game down there."

    Ollie ChessumImage source, Getty Images
  15. The standingspublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    So how does the table look going into the final round?

    France will be favourites to claim the title but England and Ireland are still in with a chance.

    Scotland are also involved mathematically but they would need the three sides above them to finish their last matches emptyhanded.

    What a Super Saturday we have in store...

    StandingsImage source, BBC Sport
  16. 'I was expecting England to put the afterburners on'published at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    Matt Dawson
    Listen to 2003 World Cup winner on BBC Sport website and app

    There were moments up until 50-55 minutes that England were in complete control.

    I was expecting them to put the afterburners on, but instead it was the handbrake in the way they went about their business towards the end.

    A lot of positives. Jamie George on his 100th played very well. The second row pair also impressed.

  17. Super Saturdaypublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: England 47-24 Italy

    We've completed four enthralling rounds of this year's Six Nations, so here is a reminder of what is to come on the final day...

    Saturday, 15 March

    Italy v Ireland (14:15)

    Wales v England (16:45)

    France v Scotland (20:00)

  18. Full-time - England 47-24 Italypublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time

    Fin Smith's missed conversion is the final act of this game.

    England have scored seven tries to cruise past Italy and keep their Six Nations title ambitions alive.

  19. 'Earl just letting Vintcent know that he can do it too'published at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time

    England 47-24 Italy

    Matt Dawson
    Listen to 2003 World Cup winner on BBC Sport website and app

    Ben Curry had no right to poach that ball. In a flash, he gave it to his back-row friend. Ben Earl just letting Ross Vintcent know that he can do it too.

  20. try

    Try - England 47-24 Italypublished at 80 mins

    Ben Earl

    What do I know? England finish strong.

    Italy try to run the ball out of their own half but Ben Curry steals the ball at the breakdown and feeds Ben Earl for a simple finish.

    Fin Smith misses his final shot at goal but it won't matter.