England cruise to 40-5 win over Italy](http://uk.news.yahoo.com/030309/80/dv181.html)
LONDON (Reuters) - England have beaten Italy 40-5 to keep their Six Nations grand slam hopes alive but after a devastating early spell, the home side spent much of the match on the defensive against a much-improved Italian team.
In a blistering opening 22 minutes England scored five tries, two by impressive fullback Josh Lewsey, to race into a 33-0 lead.
However, Italy found a way back into the game and dominated possession for about 40 minutes either side of halftime.
They managed only a solitary second-half try by fullback Mirco Bergamasco after giving England’s defence a sustained examination.
England have now gone 20 successive games unbeaten at Twickenham but coach Clive Woodward, building towards this year’s World Cup, was not impressed with his team’s failure to build on their great start.
“It’s a very quiet dressing room, there’s a lot of frustration still,” said Woodward.
"We were fantastic for 25/30 minutes and then we just took our foot off the pedal and we couldn’t take the ball off the Italians.
“They played very well but we just got a little bit sloppy. They were in line for a hiding at one stage.”
Ireland and England have won their first three games and will meet on March 30 in Dublin in the final match of the championship, likely to be a Grand Slam decider.
Ireland beat champions France 15-12 on Saturday while Scotland beat Wales 30-22 to leave Wales winless after three games.
FLYING START
England, with wins over France and Wales in the bag, got off to a flying start at Twickenham.
Captain Jonny Wilkinson opted to kick for touch with his side’s first penalty and the result was a secured lineout and three quick passes that put in Lewsey for a try just minutes into his first international game for two years.
Wilkinson, leading the side in the absence of the injured Martin Johnson, repeated the option in the 10th minute and this time hooker Steve Thompson burrowed through to score.
Three minutes later winger James Simpson-Daniel got on the scoresheet after another lightning move, Lewsey slipping the killer pass.
The Wasps fullback, who gave up a career in the army to concentrate on fulltime rugby, then scored a superb individual try. He said this week he would not try to copy Jason Robinson, out injured, but his triple sidestep would have done the Sale man proud and it left his opposite number Bergamasco clutching air as Lewsey ran 50 metres to score.
Quick work by scrumhalf Matt Dawson then set up centre Mike Tindall for England’s fifth try in the right corner.
England looked set to better their 80-23 success in the fixture two years ago but Italy stopped the points tidal wave.
The visitors went on to dominate the remaining 20 minutes of the half. They came up against ferocious tackling as the hosts showed 100 per cent commitment in defending their tryline even if England’s attack lost its cutting edge.
Italy started the second half well and England’s plans were further thrown off course by a double injury.
Wilkinson went off with a shoulder problem in the 48th minute but his replacement Charlie Hodgson lasted only five minutes before he too went off, with a twisted ankle.
Will Greenwood took over the flyhalf duties.
Ramiro Pez, playing at flyhalf in place of Italy’s star player Diego Dominguez, dropped the ball inches from the line but the Italian pressure finally paid off after an hour when winger Mirco Bergamasco scored in the corner.
Winger Dan Luger scored England’s sixth try to round off a disjointed home team performance.
