Thompson expects a fight for full 80 minutes

ENGLAND hooker Steve Thompson has predicted an 80-minute battle against Italy today when the world champions target their first RBS 6 Nations Championship away win in two years.

After strolling to a 47-13 win against reigning Six Nations champions Wales at Twickenham last Saturday, England have put themselves in pole position to launch a major challenge on this season’s title.

The challenge now, though, is to build from that performance and end a run of defeats on the road that has seen England come unstuck against France, Wales and Ireland since 2004.