| Italy (0) 0 |
| England (31) 74 |
| Tries: McKenna 2, Thompson 3, Davies, Brown, Matthews, Fleetwood, Bern, Sing, Scarratt Cons: Harrison 3, Rowland 4 |
England are on course for a fourth straight Women's Six Nations title after demolishing Italy in Parma.
The one-way traffic continued as Lydia Thompson, Lark Davies, Shaunagh Brown and Alex Matthews followed.
Thompson scored two more tries in the second half.
30 seconds after her arrival off the bench, prop Sarah Bern unleashed a 50-metre burst.
Emily Scarratt scored her 50th England try, and the other replacements - Emma Sing, Emily Scarratt, and Vicki Fleetwood - all added to the tally.
England have been playing under a lot of stress so far in the tournament, with high levels of training in the build-up to matches.
The Red Roses were too fresh and bright for Italy as they ground down the hosts with big carries and smart handling.
Italy's players never lost heart, throwing themselves into tackles despite the damage.
Even though the teams had lost in all 22 of their previous meetings, any faint hopes of a huge victory were quickly snuffed out.
The final weekend of the Six Nations will see England take on Wales, but France will be looking for revenge after they beat Italy and Ireland in their opening two games.
The 126-point difference between the two teams means that England is back at the top of the table.
England took advantage of the conditions from the start, with forward runners punching holes in wide channels.
It was a piece of prime opportunism that delivered the first try, as McKenna darted blind and scrum-halfNatasha Hunt, playing her first Test since November 2020, provided the pass for her to walk in.
Thompson ran in for her 39th England try after Vickii Cornborough&s charge-down and regathered, while Davies and Brown rumbled over from close range to guarantee the bonus point within 28 minutes.
The impressive Matthews, who staked her claim to a regular spot in England's well-stocked back row, scattered blue shirts with a fifth first-half try.
In the build-up to the match, coach Simon Middleton promised that his side would never ease off their opponents, with internal competition for places and the aim to regain the World Cup from New Zealand later this year keeping the pedal to the metal.
His side showed no mercy after the break. Thompson rounded her opposite number two minutes after the interval, while Fleetwood was the beneficiary at the back of a steamrolling maul.
Bern's score was thirty seconds after her arrival off the bench, and she showed an extraordinary turn of pace to scamper home after Hunt's half break.
Scarratt had not scored a Test score since she broke her leg at the end of last year.
The squad could be cut down to 30 players for the World Cup.
It was another performance to show his talent. There are difficult decisions to be made.
Italy has: Muzzo, Sillari, Rigoni, Magatti, Madia, Stefan, Maris, Bettoni, and Tuonesi.
Vecchini, Seye, Veronese, D Inca, Barro, Fedrighi, Barattin, Furlan are replacements.
England: Kildunne, Thompson, Aitchison, Harrison, Hunt, Galligan, Davies, Brown, Galligan, Ward, Matthews, Kabeya, P Cleall.
Replacements: Powell, Muir, Bern, Hunter, L Packer, Scarratt, Sing.
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