Eddie Jones made early tweaks before
England thrashed
Italy 37-0 at St James’ Park in their last action before the World CupThey say to always leave them wanting more and there can be little doubt England managed that. This was a first home Test against a tier one nation away from Twickenham for a decade but the Newcastle crowd were starved of much to shout about to mark the occasion until a late flurry of points.
When some of the biggest cheers of the night are for Italy choosing to kick to the corner – England had been booed for not doing so earlier – it is clear the Newcastle faithful were not witnessing a classic performance. In truth it came nowhere near the intensity and panache with which England have dispatched Wales and
Ireland on home soil in these warm-up matches. Indeed, after that record-breaking win over Ireland Billy Vunipola explained how England had to learn to perform without the “comforts of our home” at Twickenham. There remains work to do on that front.