Venner and Scarratt spearhead Red Roses' solid start to defence

No one expected it to be easy for Italy. No one expected it to be anything other than straightforward for England. The Red Roses duly achieved a resounding six-try win in launching their attempt at a seventh successive title, but after scoring five first-half tries they stuttered after the break and waited until two minutes from time for a second-half score.

- Luke McLaughlin

No one expected it to be easy for Italy. No one expected it to be anything other than straightforward for England. The Red Roses duly achieved a resounding six-try win in launching their attempt at a seventh successive title, but after scoring five first-half tries they stuttered after the break and waited until two minutes from time for a second-half score. "We left a bit out there," the head coach, John Mitchell, conceded.

England's hot streak stretches to 21 consecutive matches, since after the World Cup final defeat by New Zealand in 2022, but there was ultimately a lack of fluency here in York that may concern Mitchell, who celebrated his 61st birthday and ushered in what may become a special year with a win.

In 151 days' time, England begin a home Rugby World Cup against the USA at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. It is inconceivable they could suffer the same fate of the men's side of a decade ago, when Stuart Lancaster's team failed to make it out of the pool. But they are sure to be tested in the tournament's later stages, so this Six Nations will be about refining combinations and systems. After an uncertain start, Italy improved, while England's accuracy was not what they would have hoped.