England unleash attack to keep Six Nations hope alive

Perhaps it will not be a French fait accompli on Super Saturday.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

England’s Six Nations title hopes remain faint but down the M4 they will accelerate to Cardiff on the final weekend blessed with extra gears, Italy duly dispatched as the hosts unlocked a desired dimension that the paying public have demanded.

Boring England? The criticism that followed the narrowest of wins over Scotland felt fair given the straying from the attacking strategy that Steve Borthwick has hoped to instil but there could be no arguing that the hosts did not show ambition here. Indeed, particularly in a helter-skelter first half, there were times where England’s reckless abandon threatened to do more harm than good, before the shackles were finally cast aside as they burst into bright, brilliant colour after the interval.

It may “only” have been Italy but the Azzurri are not the alsorans of the past, however disappointing they might have been. Bitty it may have been in places but the attitude and attacking aptitude England showed felt like a significant stride in the direction they have long claimed to be heading. France remain in control of their own destiny: a bonus-point win against Scotland in the grand denouement will be enough to make certain of a title that they most certainly merit. But beat Wales while scoring four tries – a mightily tough task in Cardiff, of course – and England will put the pressure on.