Rugby Football Union - England Rugby - Wilkinson passes landmark as England secure victory in Rome

Wilkinson passes landmark as England secure victory in Rome

by Simon Mills


	Jonny Wilkinson: on target in Rome photo by Getty Images

February 10, 2008

Italy 19 England 23

Jonny Wilkinson passed a 1,000-point milestone as England got their RBS 6 Nations campaign up and running with a hard-fought win in Italy.


Sackey gives England an early lead photo by Getty

The fly half kicked two conversions and three penalties to reach 1,009 in 67 internationals and only Neil Jenkins - 1,049 in 87 appearances - is ahead of him in the all-time world rankings.

Equally important were first half tries from Paul Sackey and Toby Flood that gave England a platform from which they could control the game against a typically physical Italian side.

But despite leading 20-6 at one stage, they didn’t manage to pull away in the second half and a late try from Simon Picone made for a tense last few minutes.


	Haskell:lmpressive all round photo by Getty

Certainly a difficult build-up can hardly have helped Brian Ashton’s side. Captain Phil Vickery withdrew on the morning of the match, his place taken by Matt Stevens and the leadership of the side handed to Steve Borthwick.


Borthwick rises to the challenge photo by Getty

Five other players who started the Championship - Mike Tindall, David Strettle, Andrew Sheridan, Lewis Moody and Tom Rees were also missing with injuries.

They needed a steady start against a fired-up Italian side and Wilkinson provided it, gathering his own kick in space and then sending Sackey sprinting clear to the line for a brilliantly conceived and executed try.

Wilkinson nonchalantly landed the touchline conversion, and although Bortolussi replied by booting a long-range penalty, England could feel pleased with the initial flurries.

Italy though, were quick to use their forwards, and when wing Lesley Vainikolo was penalised for not releasing possession inside his own 22, Bortolussi kicked the three points.

It was a timely reminder to England of Italy's threat in the game, but the visitors came up trumps with a second try on 15 minutes.

Centre Jamie Noon charged down Bortolussi's attempted clearance, and when he found Wilkinson in support, Noon's midfield partner Flood looped around cleverly to claim his second touchdown in successive Six Nations Tests.

Wilkinson's conversion brought up his 1,000 points, and England led 14-6 before Bortolussi drifted a drop goal attempt wide.

Wilkinson then booted two penalties as half time approached, keeping a disappointing Italian side comfortably at bay and building the platform for an emphatic success.

England needed to ease back into their first half rhythm, but two more Bortolussi penalties set the tone for a second period that Italy dominated territorially.

A third Wilkinson penalty edged England further ahead and they clung on until inside the last five minutes before the Italian try – made when Danny Cipriani’s chip out of defence was charged down.

The conversion moved Italy to within four points but they were kept at arm’s length after that with Cipriani hammering the ball deep into Azzurri territory to make sure.

Italy: Bortolussi, Robertson, Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Galon, Masi, Travagli, Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Del-Fava, Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse.

Replacements: Sgarbi for Canale (63), Marcato for Masi (73), Picone for Travagli (56), Perugini for Lo Cicero (52), Festuccia for Ghiraldini (63), Nieto for Castrogiovanni (60), Zanni for Dellape (73).

Scorers: Try: Picone. Conversion: Bortolussi. Penalties: Bortolussi 4.

England: Balshaw (Gloucester Rugby); Sackey (London Wasps), Noon, Flood (both Newcastle Falcons), Vainikolo (Gloucester Rugby); Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons), Gomarsall (Harlequins); Payne (London Wasps), Regan (Bristol Rugby), Stevens, Shaw (both London Wasps), Borthwick (Bath Rugby), Haskell (London Wasps), Lipman (Bath Rugby), Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: Cipriani (London Wasps) for Wilkinson (67), Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks) for Gomarsall (60), Mears (Bath Rugby) for Regan (59), Kay (Leicester Tigers) for Shaw (77), Narraway (Gloucester Rugby) for Easter (65), Tait (Newcastle Falcons) for Noon (52-60)

Not Used: Hobson (Bristol Rugby).

Scorers: Tries: Sackey, Flood. Conversions: Wilkinson 2. Penalties: Wilkinson 3.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).

ends