England 18-11 Italy: England grind way to brink of Grand Slam

But coach Stuart Lancaster's men will have to vastly improve on this error-strewn performance when they travel to Cardiff this Saturday to face a Wales side determined not to let the Six Nations title slip from their hands.

England could have effectively wrapped up the tournament yesterday had they inflated their points difference by putting Italy to the sword.

Instead they will cross the Severn Bridge with a cushion of just 14 points - leaving all to play for at the Millennium Stadium.

Flood's six penalties meant he overtook Jonathan Webb as England's fourth highest points scorer but there was little else remarkable about England's worst performance of the championship, devoid of composure and accuracy.

They blew three golden try-scoring opportunities and ended the game defending for their lives.

There were ripples of boos from the crowd, summing up how poor England were in the face of an Azzurri side who grew in belief and confidence on the back of home mistakes.

Italy scored the only try through Luke McLean and they could have led had Luciano Orquera not missed the conversion and a subsequent penalty at 15-11.

Flood extended England's lead before a wearying home defence held firm in the face of fevered Italian attacks.