OWN CORRESPONDENT, Twickenham | Friday 8.15pm.
A FIRED-up England savaged Italy 67-7 in their opening Group B World Cup clash at Twickenham at Twickenham on Saturday.
England, determined to become the first northern hemisphere side to win the World Cup, quickly took control after surviving a brief opening flurry from an Italian side who have been added to next season’s Five Nations tournament.
The English pack gave their counterparts a torrid time with captain Martin Johnson leading from the front.
With the backs having no shortage of the ball scrum-half Matt Dawson gave a sparkling performance, masterminding two first-half tries that had the Italians clinging on for dear life.
First he set Richard Hill down the blindside to run over for the easiest of tries, the Italian defence nowhere to be seen.
Then Dawson, playing the game of his life, broke down the right, cut inside and despite being tackled, got the ball to Austin Healey who slipped it to Phil De Glanville to go over.
With Wilkinson punishing Italian errors with a series of successful penalties England turned round 34-7 up and the only question left to answer was how many more points the home side could rack up.
The white tide of English shirts continued to wash over the hapless Italians.
Ten minutes after the restart Matt Perry dived over for another try after Healey tore through the creaking Italian defence.
Minutes later Wilkinson proved he was more than a kicking machine by scoring his first try for England. He converted and England were 47-7 in front.
Again the mastermind was right winger Healey who was competing with Dawson for the man-of-the-match award.
Winger Dan Luger added another try after number eight Lawrence Dallaglio split the Italian defence wide open with a long ball to Neil Back. Again Wilkinson slotted over.
Martin Corry completed the scoring with an injury time try.
There was some consolation for Italian fly-half Diego Dominguez when he wrote himself into the history books after he intercepted a Matt Dawson pass from 30 metres out in the 27th minute to dash to the line.
The Argentinian-born Dominguez converted his own try to make himself the third highest points scorer in international rugby, just behind Australia’s Michael Lynagh and Neil Jenkins of Wales.
As they trailed off the pitch with the words of Swing Low Sweet Chariot ringing in their ears from an estatic English crowd, they had the worrying thought that they still had New Zealand and Tonga to face in their Group. –AFP