Italy U20s 17-37 England U20s: England get back to winning ways after a dominant second-half display

England looked to be building up steam until James Pater’s pass was picked off, looking to find Caluori on the right wing, but the Saracens man was able to track down the ball before Keylock managed to pin it down in goal.

From the resulting 5-metre lineout, Italy would get the first try of the night, with Varottoj finding Pietro Celi to crash over and give the Italians the advantage after 17 minutes. Braga would add the extras.

One looked to have become two after an England obstruction led to an Italy lineout, to which a driving maul was formed, and out came the back of it was Valerio Pelli, but it would be disallowed after Bianchi was deemed to have moved in front of Pelli, breaking out from the maul to give England a reprieve.

England looked to have been banging down the Italian door, after a lineout led to phases close to the goal line, Nick Lilley would be held up, but England would have another bite at the cherry after Bianchi committed a penalty.

It would prove costly as immediately after the restart, Lucas Friday slinged one out right to Will Knight, who took the ball down by his laces and was unmarked to over and get England on the board after their seventh entry into the Italian 22. Conversion would be made by Keylock.

As the clock would go into the red, Luca de Novellis would be sent to the sin bin after an accumulation of penalties close to the try line, Finn Keylock would decline the kick to the corner and take the three points on offer, and send England down the tunnel with a three-point lead.

It didn’t take long for England to make use of their man advantage, making their way from right to left after a penalty scrum. Finn Keylock found Tyler Offiah on the left wing before being stopped five metres out, but Lucas Friday would be there to pick up the pieces and go over to extend England’s lead.

Pelli wasn’t to be denied a second time after neat play on the right wing with a penalty advantage. Faissal would tip the ball, eluding the England defenders to allow Pelli to walk into the corner. Braga wasn’t able to add the extra two points.

England would win a penalty off the restart, with Italy unable to deal with their counter-rucking before illegally removing one of the England players, leading to Finn Keylock adding to his tally for the day to 10 and giving England an eight-point lead.

The frantic start to the second half continued, as a kick from Varottoj would cause problems for Lucas Friday, with Malik Faissal in proximity and ready to pounce on the loose ball, beating James Pater to it, sliding into the corner to get his third try in his last two Six Nations appearances against England. Braga’s kick would just slide wide of the posts.

An England lineout would lead to their third try, a dubious knock-on fell the way of the away side, with the Italians looking for a whistle that didn’t come. Seb Kelly played to it and bulldozed his way through multiple Italian defenders. Keylock was unable to make England’s lead 10.

England’s dominance started to show as Italy committed another penalty, leading to a scrum, and England had the numbers on the far side to stretch the Italians. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave offloaded on the ground to Finn Keylock, who was able to hold off an Italian defender to give England the bonus point. Keylock made it 17 for himself on the night, making the conversion.

The England floodgates had opened after another successful set piece proved to break down Italy. George Marsh, who had only been on the pitch for a few moments, got heaved over the line by his teammates for England’s fifth.

Tries: 3 (Celli 17’, Pelli 47’, Faissal 51’)

Conversions: 1 (Braga 17’)

Penalties: 0

Yellow Cards: 1 (de Novellis 40’)

Red Cards: 0

Italy U20s: 15. Pietro Celi 14. Malik Faissal 13. Luca de Novellis 12. Riccardo Casarin 11. Tommaso Roda 10. Francesco Braga 9. Nikolaj Varottoj 1. Christian Brasini 2. Valerio Pelli 3. Luca Trevisan 4. Marco Spreafichi 5. Simone Fardin 6. Jaheim Noel Wilson 7. Carlo-Antonio Bianchi 8. Antony Miranda

Replacements: 16. Antonio Reina 17. Gioele Boccato 18. Erik Meroi 19. Davide Sette 20. Inza Dene 21. Alessandro Teodosio 22. Giovanni Degli Antoni 23. Thomas del Sureto

Tries: 5 (Knight 35’, Friday 44’, Kelly 59’, Keylock 67’, Marsh 71’),

Conversions: 3 (Keylock 35’, 45’, 68’)

Penalties: 2 (Keylock 40’, 50)

Yellow Cards: 0

Red Cards: 0

England U20s: 15. James Pater 14. Noah Caluori 13. Nick Lilley 12. Will Knight 11. Tyler Offiah 10. Finn Keylock 9. Lucas Friday 1. Oliver Scola 2. Jimmy Staples 3. Ollie Streeter 4. Elliot Williams 5. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave 6. Tate Williams 7. Seb Kelly 8. Connor Treacey

Replacements: 16. Jerold Gorleku 17. Oliver Spencer 18. Sonny Tonga’Uiha 19. Freddie Ogden-Metherell 20. George Marsh 21. Jonny Weimann 22. Victor Worsnip 23. George Pearson

1. Wasn’t to be Friday’s night – Lucas Friday’s name was on everyone’s lips this week after his performances for Harlequins and the England U20s, but tonight was not the Scrum-Half’s best outing. Hooked just before the hour mark and at fault for Italy’s third try, adding onto multiple turnovers and handling errors, it’s a night that the talented Harlequins man would want to forget.

2. England’s turnovers and handling errors – 20 turnovers and 29 handling errors across their last two Six Nations matches for England, they cost them against Ireland at the Rec, but didn’t too much tonight. Some were forced by good Italian hits, but the majority were down to individual errors; it's certainly an area of improvement for Andy Titterrall’s side.

3. They found a way – Even with the number of turnovers and errors England committed tonight, they were able to work through them, and in the end, the final 20 minutes will be the template they’ll hope to follow in future games. Strong set pieces, attacking line speed, and willing to take chances at risk of a mistake.

4. Riccardo Casarin – Although the Amatori & Union Milano centre came out on the losing side tonight, he’s certainly one to watch for the future. Another three turnovers won to add to his previous five in the tournament, he’s a problem at the breakdown and scoping for any chances to get his hands on the ball.

5. Always next year – With France’s bonus point win over Scotland earlier today, it means that even with England getting a bonus point, it’s mathematically impossible for Andy Titterrall’s side to regain the Six Nations title, with a talented squad at his disposal, this time next year he might have lost some of his core players such as Treacey, Friday, Caluori but those waiting in the wings are more than capable of filling their boots and competing against a strong French side.