England gained their second win in the Six Nations but they had several scares as the Italians staged a late rally leading to the narrow win.
The first half ended as a draw with both Jonny Wilkinson and Mirco Bergamasco posting 2 penalties each giving us 6-6, though uncharacteristically Wilkinson missed a couple of easy kicks which would have put England in with 12 points.
The second period and early on it looked like England would cut loose as a well worked try was gained by Matthew Tait.
Italy closed to within 2 points, but a Wilkinson drop goal late on wrapped up the scoring and gave us the final score of:
Italy 12-17 England
Scorers
Italy
Pens: Mi Bergamasco 4
England
Tries: Tait Pens: Wilkinson 3 Drop-goal: Wilkinson
Teams
Italy: McLean; Masi, Canale, Garcia, Mi Bergamasco; Gower, Tebaldi; Perugini, Ghiraldini, Castrogiovanni, Geldenhuys, Bortolami, Sole, Ma Bergamasco, Zanni.
Replacements: Robertson for Masi (55), Canavosio for Tebaldi (53), Aguero for Perugini (55), Ongaro for Ghiraldini (75).
Not Used: Bernabo, Derbyshire, Bocchino.
Sin Bin: Castrogiovanni (58).
England: D Armitage; Cueto, Tait, Flutey, Monye; Wilkinson, Care; Payne, Hartley, Cole, Shaw, Borthwick, Haskell, Moody, Easter.
Replacements: Hodgson for Care (75), Mullan for Payne (59), Thompson for Hartley (69), Wilson for Cole (64), Deacon for Shaw (64), S. Armitage for Moody (72).
Not Used: Flood.
Att: 31,876
Ref: Christophe Berdos (France).