Corbisiero sets U20s on their way in Genoa

Alex Corbisiero set England on the way to victory with a try in the land of his forefathers at the Stadio Sciorba in Genoa.

Corbisiero's grandfather left Naples for America in the middle of the last century and the London Irish prop made sure his homecoming was a happy one by smashing his way over from close range in the first half of a hard-earned Six Nations victory.

Wing Noah Cato and his Saracens team-mate Andy Saull touched down the second half scores, with another Vicarage Road product, fly-half Alex Goode, kicking two conversions and a penalty.

Riccardo Bocchino replied with two penalties but once his side lost the advantage of playing with a stiff breeze they struggled to generate any momentum and Luca Petillo's consolation try came from the final move of the match.

England had impressed against Wales eight days earlier with three tries in a comfortable 28-15 victory, but needed to improve their discipline and accuracy against a physical Italy side that went down 6-0 in Ireland in their opening game.

There were two changes to the starting line-up forced by the recall of Miles Benjamin and Gregor Gillanders to Guinness Premiership sides Worcester Warriors and Leicester Tigers respectively, while Andy Saull (Saracens) had recovered from a hamstring injury to sit on the bench.

England were sharp and physical in the opening 10 minutes but making progress into the wind was difficult and Bocchino got Italy on the board first with a 45m penalty.

They forced the home side on the back foot, though, by driving the ball up and chasing their kicks well - Harlequins' Seb Stegmann recovering one ball and Cato threatening on the left before Italy were pinned into the corner from a penalty.

The initial drive was halted but Corbisiero shoved and twisted his way over in the 20th minute to retake the lead with Goode adding a superb conversion.

England put together plenty of phases but Italy kicked through to give Bocchino another chance - after a tug on an opposition shirt - which he inexplicably missed from 35m.

The Capitolina fly-half made no mistake three minutes before the break, though, but England set up another good position straight away after Goode's shot at goal hit a post from long range.

Cato and Eves were involved in one penetrating move which set up the position for a series of five-metre scrums.

Ellis opted against another penalty to keep up the pressure in the red zone but although Jon Fisher forced his way over, referee David Bodilly ruled out his effort for crossing.

England resisted the temptation to overdo the tactical kicking early in the second half and attacked with more confidence, pulling away with a clinical second try in the 49th minute.

After driving off a lineout in midfield, scrum half Ben Youngs exploited a blind-side hole with a 20m break before putting Cato over in the corner for his second try in two internationals this season.

Goode couldn't convert but drilled over a 55th minute penalty and Italy started the final quarter win only 14 men on the field after flanker Nicola Simion was yellow-carded for stamping.

The victim, a groggy Corbisiero, punished them with another rumbling drive to the Italian line with replacement flanker Saull getting the final touch on 67 minutes with Goode's conversion putting England out of sight.

A succession of close-range penalties in the final minutes saw number eight Petillo force his way over with Bocchino's conversion ending the game.

England: Greig Tonks (Leicester Tigers); Seb Stegmann (Harlequins), Luke Eves (Bristol Rugby), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Noah Cato (Saracens); Alex Goode (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby), Joe Gray (Northampton Saints), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Ben Thomas (Saracens), Scott Hobson (Cornish Pirates), Jon Fisher (London Irish), Matthew Cox (Worcester Warriors), Hugo Ellis (London Wasps, captain).Replacements: Dan Norton (Gloucester Rugby) for Tonks 41, Scott Freer (Leeds Carnegie) for Gray 68, Billy Moss (Bath Rugby) for Catt 68, Andy Saull (Saracens) for Fisher 70, Johnny Arr (Worcester Warriors) for Youngs 77, Robert Miller (Newcastle Falcons) for Goode 77.Not used: Tom Sargeant (Harlequins)Scorers: Tries: Corbisiero, Cato, Saull. Conversions: Goode 2. Penalty: Goode.Italy: Matteo Nava (Giunti Firenze 1931); Andrea Bachetti (Femi CZ Rovigo), Roberto Quartaroli (Easy Living L'Aquila), Alberto Chiesa (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato, captain), Edoardo Rotella (AmavivA UR Capitolina); Riccardo Bocchino (AmavivA UR Capitolina), Luca Martinelli (Antares Benevento); Andrea De Marchi (Mont de Marsan), Tommaso D'Apice (Antares Benevento), Massimiliano Ravalle (Overmach Cariparma), Filippo Giusti (Colleferro Rugby), Alberton Cazzola (Favero Montebelluna), Nicola Simion (Benetton Treviso), Simone Favaro (Benetton Treviso), Luca Petillo (Mantovani Pol Lazio).Replacements: Giuseppe Sapuppo (Amatori Catania) for Nava 41, Marc Piero Colia (AlmavivA UR Capitolina) for D'Apice 60, Lorenzo Sebastiani (Easy Living L'Aquila) for De Marchi 78.Scorers: Try: Petillo. Conversion: Penalties: Bocchino 2.Referee: David Bodilly (WRU).