ENGLAND MOVED TO the top of the Six Nations table with a five-try 40-9 win over Italy in Rome.

The England 10/12 combination of George Ford and Owen Farrell linked up for the first try of the game, one that was built on the ferocious kick chase of Jonathan Joseph and the breakdown work of fullback Mike Brown.

Having turned the Italians over underneath their own posts, the ball was moved left, with Billy Vunipola dropping a pass out the back door to Farrell, who darted past the onrushing Gonzalo Garcia and fired a lovely assisting pass to Ford.

There were echoes of the Jack Nowell try against Scotland last weekend in the play for Ford’s try, as the England out-half linked well with his first centre.

While England were only 11-9 ahead at the break, they were able to pull clear of the determined Italians in the second half, in part thanks to a hat-trick from Jonathan Joseph.

Joseph’s first try came as he intercepted a poor Leonardo Sarto pass.

The England outside centre then got on the end of a sublime Danny Care grubber kick.

Joseph’s 19-minute hat-trick was completed when he powered over in the left corner.

Farrell got on the try sheet himself in the 74th minute, taking a lovely Jamie George offload to cross.

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