Match Previews 
/ Geoffrey Riddle / 09 February 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Geoffrey believes England's back can outclass Italy's
"Italy’s famed scrum was beaten up by France last week and, although England’s tight-five is no match for Les Bleus, they can at least gain parity up front."
Geoffrey Riddle believes that England can record a second successive victory when they travel to Rome on Saturday...
Stat attack
• Italy made more offloads in the tackle than France last week - 12, which is equal to Ireland, Wales and England put together.
• Italy continue to be one of the cleanest sides in the tournament, conceding only six penalties to France last week - England will have to score tries.
• Under Nick Mallett, Italy played ten matches at home in the Six Nations and were winners on the main handicap line eight times.
• Italy scored 13 tries at RWC 2011, six of which were scored by forwards.
• Italy will field a total of 698 caps when they take the field against England, with another 116 caps on the bench. England have just 248 in their starting XV.
• England's last two visits to Rome have resulted in two narrow victories, but four and five points.
• At the Rugby World Cup, England scored 20 tries, 19 of which were scored by the backs.
• England scored almost twice as many tries in the second half compared to the first at the World Cup and did not concede a single touchdown after the break in New Zealand - the only team in the tournament to do so.
• Italy have never won a Test at the 82,000-capacity Stadio Olimpico.
Preview
England have never been handed a single-figure match handicap against Italy in the Six Nations, but after their laboured victory over Scotland last week Betfair have chalked up a 7.5-point differential between the two sides.
The last two times Italy have hosted England in Rome they have been tight affairs, with Martin Johnson's side edging clear by four and five points in 2008 and 2010 respectively.
Johnson never presided over a win in Edinburgh and although Stuart Lancaster's side were fortunate to succeed thanks to Charlie Hodgson's charge down, momentum is everything in the Six Nations.
Italy's famed scrum was beaten up by France last week and, although England's tight-five is no match for Les Bleus, they can at least gain parity up front.
England's backs are far superior to Italy's and during the World Cup England relied heavily on their backline to score tries. England's forwards scored only one try in New Zealand and if Chris Robshaw's pack front up then England should win this.
Recomended Bet (1-5pt staking plan):
2pts Back England to win by under 12.5 points
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