LONDON: England came through a huge scare to keep their Grand Slam hopes alive with an unconvincing 18-11 victory over Italy in the Six Nations Championship at Twickenham yesterday.
When Italy scored the only try of the match, through Australia-born wing Luke McLean in the 49th minute, they cut England’s lead to 15-11.
But England, with recalled fly-half Toby Flood kicking all of the hosts’ points courtesy of six penalties, hung on to set up a title-decider away to champions Wales on Saturday.
A Wales victory at the Millennium Stadium will deny England a first Grand Slam since their World Cup-winning year of 2003 at the Millennium Stadium.
And this result left England with a mere plus eight points difference advantage over their title rivals.
England came into this match having won all their previous 18 Tests against Italy.
But come the finish they were forced into some desperate scrambling as Italy laid siege to their line.
England coach Stuart Lancaster made several changes to the team that beat France 23-13, handing a first start to Saracens prop Mako Vunipola.
He also selected a new half-back combination in scrum-half Danny Care, who replaced Ben Youngs, and Flood, in for the injured Owen Farrell.
Italy threw the competition wide open on the first weekend with a 23-18 win over pre-tournament favourites France only to subsequently lose heavily to Scotland and Wales.
The Italians were like a ship without a rudder against Wales in the absence of captain Sergio Parisse. AFP
