Relentless England power on

LONDON - England turned on the power after the interval to beat defending Six Nations champions France 25-17 at Twickenham yesterday.

In Rome, Italian jubilation knew no bounds as they celebrated a 30-22 win over Wales, just their second Six Nations victory.

At Twickenham, neither side were at their best and the key match of the championship did not reach the expected heights.

England, yet to win a Grand Slam since coach Clive Woodward took over in 1997, trailed 3-1 in the try count, but deserved their win thanks to relentless pressure from their giant forward pack and the unerring boot of Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked five penalties, a dropped goal and a conversion.

England have now gone 19 games without defeat at Twickenham and are poised to go to the World Cup in Australia this year as champions of Europe - if they do not trip up against the other four contenders, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy.

"The important thing was winning that test, however we won it," Woodward said.

"It wasn't the best performance, but the winning was everything. The prospect of losing that game doesn't bear thinking about."

England centre Will Greenwood was blunt about the performance.

"A load of rubbish really. That was the most disappointing second half I've had in an England jersey," said Greenwood, who set up fullback Jason Robinson's try.

The home side, beaten 20-15 in Paris last year, led 12-7 after an inconclusive first half before Robinson broke the war of attrition with a dazzling 48th-minute try, streaking over near the posts after a period of sustained pressure.

Wilkinson drove home the advantage and tries by France fullback Clement Poitrenaud and centre Damien Traille came too late to influence the result.

"It was a tribute to our spirit that we came back and scored three tries," France coach Bernard Laporte said.

Neither side could establish ascendancy in the first half, although Robinson was a constant threat with his lively runs.

England owed their first-half lead to four penalties from Wilkinson, who again kicked with metronomic perfection, although he enjoyed a large slice of good fortune with his first penalty, a 13th-minute effort from 45m which swung in low, hit the crossbar and bounced over.

The only try before the interval came from Frenchman Olivier Magne.

The tall flanker was rewarded for his anticipation when he charged down an attempted clearance by centre Charlie Hodgson, controlled the ball brilliantly with his right hand and plunged over near the posts.

England prop Jason Leonard became the first forward, and only the third player overall, to win 100 caps, but had to leave the field in the first half with a hamstring injury.

In Rome, both teams scored three tries, but five-eighths Diego Dominguez proved the key, kicking 15 points to take his tally to 980 since making his debut for the Azzurri in 1991.

The last time Italy tasted victory in the championship was in 2000 against Scotland - their first match in the Six Nations.

Apart from Dominguez, Italy's triumph owed much to their back row, who were outstanding.

Wales coach Steve Hansen admitted Italy fully deserved to end their 14-match losing streak.

"You've got to give Italy credit. They dominated the game and kept pressing us," he said.

"The key was the ability to get the ball forward, and when they did, they scored."

Italy started positively and took a deserved lead in the fourth minute with a well-worked try, finished off by prop Giampiero De Carli.

Wales grabbed two quick tries through lock Steve Williams and centre Tom Shanklin, both converted.

Italy levelled with a controversial try, Welsh players complaining that captain Alessandro Troncon was deliberately blocking to allow Carlo Festuccia to run in the try, but French referee Joel Jutge allowed it to stand and Dominguez converted.

Italy, whose halftime lead was 20-17, got their third try in the 61st minute through New Zealand-born Matt Phillips.

A cheeky drop goal by Dominguez increased Italy's lead in the 73rd minute before Dwayne Peel went over for Wales' third try to ensure a nail-biting finale.

- AGENCIES