Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of England's Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome.
Italy suffered at the hands of the French last week in a predictable match that saw them concede four tries and score none. Despite the scoreline, new Azzurri coach Jacques Brunel will be looking to build on the fact that Italy really challenged the World Cup finalists for much of the match but could not break their defence.
England, despite not winning convincingly at Murrayfield last weekend, will be confident going to Rome. Italy have never beaten England, but as they showed against France last year they can be very dangerous when at home. With an expected sell-out crowd of 72,000 and some very tough conditions in freezing temperatures this one could go down to the wire.
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00min No talk of postponement in Rome today as the teams come out onto the snow-covered Stadio Olimpico pitch for the anthems. Some pre-match chuckles ensue when the overhead camera gets stuck on the posts.
01min Referee Jerome Garces blows and things get underway. Italy go high and England gether in their 22. England win an immediate penalty.
03min It's scrappy on the half-way line until England spread out wide. They get well into the Italian 22 before a scrum is called for a knock-on.
04min Italy win the scrum and clear for an English lineout on the 22 line.
06min England can't get over the gainline and spill the ball. Italy kick away their advantage and head upfield.
08min Italy chip on up the line but the ball bounces into touch. Italy steal the lineout and head into the English 22. The Azzurri knock on to give England a scrum.
10min Unsurprisingly the scrum is a little messy with all the snow underfoot. Italy are penalised for turning. England kick for touch and win the lineout. They spread out wide after some fumbling play on the line but are penalised for offside. Burton misses touch with his kick.
12min Both teams are happy to kick away possession at this point. Italy steal another lineout and win some territory with a nifty dink up to the English 22. Italy steal ANOTHER lineout.
13min Italy make some good ground but are penalised for not releasing the ball after a tackle.
15min Hodgson tries a cross-field punt but the receiver knocks on. Itlay steal and McLean takes it up the line. England are let off as Italy knock on from a dodgy pass.
16min Steam rises from the scrum, which England win then clear. Italy regain possession on the half-way line and kick upfield.
19min England when the aerial ping-pong contest as Italy are charged with accidental offside.
21min England spread out from another strong scrum. The ball goes out for an lineout and this time England manage to win it. They spill and Italy clear up the line with a lovely kick.
23min Italy take their atack into the English half again but Burton kicks away possession and goes too long.
25min Italy on the attack again. They spill and Strettle kicks on to chase. He looks to be clear but stumbles after an apparent Italian intervention. The ref calls play back for a penalty. Farrell to go for the posts.
27min PEANLTY! Owen Farrell slots it over and England get some points on the board. Italy 0-3 England
28min Italy challenging the Englsh line but can' get the advantage. They take the ball into touch for an English lineout.
31min England come close to losing the ball when an Italian tackler comes out of nowhere to force a spillage. England regain and try a cross-field kick but concede a penalty for tackling the player in the air. Nearly some handbags as Dylan Hartley has a word with the men in blue, but he backs off.
33min Italy look to be on to something when they find space out wide. They spill under pressure for an English scrum. Veteran prop Martin Castrogiovanni slowly gets to his feet after receiving some treatment on his stomach. There's nothing like seeing a prop forward's gut on a cold day. Some worry for Italy as Castrogiovanni decides he can't play on. He's replaced by Lorenzo Cittadini.
34min England dominate the scrum again and win a penalty. Farrell will have another go at the posts.
36min PENALTY! A bloodstained Farrell gets the points from an awkward angle. Italy 0-6 England
37min Italy barge into the English 22 from the restart.
38min TRY! Giovanbattista Venditti goes over after Italy put too much pressure on the English line. Burton can't convert. Italy 5-6 England
40min TRY! Tommaso Benvenuti intercepts a dodgy pass and bombs it half the length of the pitch to go over between the posts. Burton coverts to put the home side ahead. Italy 12-6 England
HALF-TIME: ITALY 12-6 ENGLAND What just happened? After a tense and scrappy first half Italy manage to steal two tries in two minutes. Could Italy be on course to get their first victory over England?
40min The second half is underway and the crowd seems to have come to life. Hodgson kicks wide and Italy gather.
42min England carry it up the Italian half and go through the phases. The spill and Italian win the penalty after England hold on on the floor. Burton kicks for touch.
43min A massive Italian maul reaches the English 22. Burton fluffs a drop goal attempt.
45min England with some good pressure in the Italian 22. Italy win a penalty and kick for touch. Parisse is down after being tackled in the air at the lineout. The ref issues a warning but there won't be a card.
46min Handbags as Parisse is obstructed on a run forward after chipping on. Tom Croft is penalised and Burton will go for the posts.
47min PENALTY! Burton edges it over. Italy 15-6 England
48min Burton is replaced by Tobias Botes. England are on the attack into the Italian half.
51min TRY! Hodgson charges down a Italian clearance kick and goes over in the corner. Farrell gets the conversion and moves England within two points of their hosts. Italy 15-13
52min The try has sparked some life into England now as they advance towards the Italian 22.
53min England win a penalty as Italy are caught offside. Farrell to go for the posts.
54min PENALTY! Farrell puts England ahead by one point. Italy 15-16 England
57min England spark another attack but a pass is intercepted. They clear but then concede a penalty on the ground. England kick for touch.
58min England maul into the Italian 22 but are pushed back and concede a scrum.
60min Italy are penalised for crossing. England go for touch and spread it out from the lineout.
62min England are looking very hungry now as they advance into the Italian 22. Brad Barritt comes close but Italian turn over. They get knock-on advantage and try to clear but suffer another charge down. It doesn't count, though, as play is called back for the original scrum.
64min Luca Morisi comes on for Gonzalo Canale. Parisse breaks from the scrum but spills after a mighty tackle from Chris Robshaw.
66min PENALTY! England with another solid scrum that results in a penalty. Farrell slots it over. Italy 15-19 England
67min England are penalised for not releasing on the ground from the restart. Botes fluffs the spot kick.
69min Botes finds touch with a lovely grubber kick. England win the lineout and set up a maul inches from their own line. Dixon clears into touch.
70min Italy on the attack now but England turn over on their 22 line.
72min England with possession in their own half.
74min Botes hacks one on and could be clear but stumbles from an English nudge. Italy are awarded the penalty but Botes makes an absolute mess of it.
75min Mauro Bergamasco comes on for Robert Barbieri.
77min Italy edge towards the English half but knock on. Scrum to England. Parisse is awarded Man of the Match. Turner-Hall replaces Hodgson.
79min England lose the scrum and Parisee breaks as England scramble. Italy kick and England knock it on. Italy will have the scrum with half a minute left.
80min The clock is red as Italy go through the phases. They spill and Barritt kicks it out of play.
FULL-TIME: ITALY 15-19 ENGLAND It's another tight win but England dominated the second half and put on a gutsy display. Next up for the men in white - Wales at Twickenham on February 25.
