England came through a huge scare to keep their grand slam hopes alive with an unconvincing 18-11 victory over Italy in the Six Nations Championship at Twickenham on Sunday.
When Italy scored the only try of the match, through Australia-born wing Luke McLean in the 49th minute, they cut England’s lead to 15-11.
But England, with recalled fly-half Toby Flood kicking all of the hosts’ points courtesy of six penalties, hung on to set up a title-decider away to champions Wales on Saturday.
A Wales win at the Millennium Stadium will deny England a first Grand Slam since their World Cup-winning year of 2003 and if the defending champions triumph by eight points or more they will also take the title.
Were Wales to win by seven points, the Championship would be decided on try count, with the Welsh currently two tries better off than England.
“I’m disappointed we weren’t quite accurate enough, we let the control slip in the second half and Italy pushed us right to the end,” said relieved England coach Stuart Lancaster.
Italy’s display was all the more creditable as it followed two heavy defeats by Scotland (10-34) and Wales (9-26).
“It was a very good performance, we came from two poor games and we played better rugby with much more physicality,” said impressive Azzurri fullback Andrea Masi.
England kicked-off having won all their previous 18 Tests against Italy.
But come the finish they were forced into some desperate scrambling as Italy laid siege to their line.
Lancaster made several changes to the team that beat France 23-13, handing a first start to Saracens prop Mako Vunipola.
He also selected a new half-back combination in halfback Danny Care, who replaced Ben Youngs, and Flood, in for the injured Owen Farrell.
Italy threw the competition wide open on the first weekend with a 23-18 win over pre-tournament favourites France but they were like a ship without a rudder against Wales in the absence of captain Sergio Parisse.
But the world-class No.8 returned at Twickenham after his ban for abusing a referee in a French club fixture was reduced on appeal and so too did five-eighth Luciano Orquera, who masterminded the win over France.