Stunning start

England kicks off World Cup campaign

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Posted: Saturday October 02, 1999 03:55 PM

England's Phil De Glanville is tackled by Italian defenders during the World Cup match won by England. AP

LONDON, England (CNN/SI) -- Italy found the fifteen English Roses too thorny to handle Saturday. By half-time (34-7) the end result (67-7) was already decided, the whistle just determined how much the Italians were basted by.

England came out at the beginning of the second half looking even more determined as it added another five tries to its first half total of three. The two teams met up at Twickenham for their Group B match.

By half-time no doubt Italy was wishing the game over. Italy's play got progressively more ragged and tired.

England on the other hand was able to use the match to put into practice several techniques as well as allowing most of it players some playing time ahead of next week's mouth-watering game against the New Zealand All Blacks.

Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson contributed 32 points with a try, five penalties and six conversions while scrum half Matt Dawson, back rows Richard Hill and Neil Back, center Phil de Glanville, fullback Matt Perry, winger Dan Luger and substitute Martin Corry all crossed the Italian line before 74,000 fans at sunny Twickenham to give the watching All Blacks spies plenty to think about ahead of next Saturday's game at the same stadium.

Flyhalf Diego Dominguez produced Italy's sole reply and high point of the match when intercepted an English pass from Dawson and raced 35 meters to just cross the line at the foot of the post despite a desperate chase and tackle by Healey. Dominguez then successfully converted the try to become the third highest scorer behind only Michael Lynagh and Neil Jenkins.

The Italians hope to bounce back by beating Tonga at Leicester, October 10.

Wilkinson kicked England ahead in the ninth minute with an 18-meter penalty awarded when the Italians failed to retire 10 meters at a free kick and the first try came a minute later.

After the Italians halted a break by Neil Back, Dawson kicked ahead down the right flank. Winger Austin Healey got to the ball but was unable to control it with his feet although he was able to recover and provide a short pass to the supporting scrum half who charged through three weak tackled before scrambling over the line.

Wilkinson missed the conversion but landed three straightforward penalties to push England into a 17-0 lead by the 24th minute, the third following a sparkling 40-meter move in which Dan Luger was halted just short of the line.

Another Wilkinson penalty made it 20-7 before Jeremy Guscott entered the game in the 35th minute as replacement for the injured Greenwood and the talented Bath center had a hand in England's second try.

His first touch of the ball was a pass out wide and the move continued with a Matt Perry pass to Luger who was tackled when in sight of the line. Lawrence Dallaglio continued the move with a pass out to back row partner Richard Hill who ran clear to cross the line in the corner. The left-footed Wilkinson followed with a brilliantly struck angled conversion from the left wing and England led 27-7.

The third try came in the final minute of the half when Dawson burst through three tackles in a weaving run down the right before he was halted. With so many Italians pulled out of position, there were plenty of supporting players free and Healey fed the ball to De Glanville who ran unopposed between the posts for the score. Wilkinson converted and England led 34-7 at half time.

The second half was 10 minutes old when Perry scored England's fourth try at the end of another standout move.

The ball was switched out to the left where Guscott was tackled eight meters short of the line and then fed the other way, going through five more pairs of hands before Healey's lobbed pass sent Perry charging clear wide on the right.

Four minutes later, Healey chased his own kick forward down the right and, although he was unable to get to it, Wilkinson followed up to dive onto the ball for the try and then kicked the conversion to make it 46-7.

Nine minutes from the end, Dallaglio's well timed long pass to De Glanville gave England a double overlap on the left and Neil Back provided the final pass outside to Luger to cross for the score. Wilkinson's fifth conversion made it 53-7.

Back's try was a pushover score by the England pack three minutes from the as the Italian forwards wilted and Wilkinson converted again to bring the total up to 60.

Substitute Corry took an inside pass to go over for the eighth try in injury time and Wilkinson's conversion took his own tally to 32.

England

Italy

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.