Italy need a pack to complement their impressive youngsters, Scarlets and Wales combine and Johnny Sexton finds a way
One of the most striking elements of England’s seven-try victory in Rome was the wraparound tactic that set the visitors on the way to their 46-15 success. It has been Johnny Sexton’s signature move for years and George Ford and Owen Farrell have now taken a leaf out of the Irish playbook. Both England’s opening two tries by Anthony Watson involved Ford looping round and helping to create a midfield mismatch with Jonny May also coming at pace off his wing to confuse the defending side still further. Ford may find teams will now be lying in wait for him in future but it was good to see an English midfield seeking to find different ways of unlocking opposition defences. His next challenge? Winning tight games with dramatic long-range drop-goals. Robert Kitson
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Team of the weekend
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