Lewsey: Don’t expect a try-fest

JOSH LEWSEY has warned a try-hungry Twickenham crowd not to expect sevens rugby when England tackle RBS 6 Nations strugglers and wooden-spoon favourites Italy today.

England’s Jonny Wilkinson-inspired victory over Scotland last weekend raised expectancy levels at the start of World Cup year after a painful struggle throughout 2006, illustrated by just three wins from 11 games.

And with England averaging almost a half-century against Italy since the Azzurri joined European rugby’s blue riband event in 2000, another points blitz has been widely predicted.

But Lewsey is prepared for a gruelling afternoon’s slog.

And the fact half of Italy’s matchday 22 tomorrow play in top-flight English or French league rugby has not been lost on an England side containing one new cap: Harlequins flanker Nick Easter.

Lewsey said: “We realise that when the Italian players began moving to the English and French leagues, they would get stronger.

“They also have one of the shrewdest coaches in Pierre Berbizier. We are not under-estimating them, and I hope the crowd are not either.

“We will need to be pragmatic at first, and if that means winning ugly then so be it.

“Don’t expect us to be involved in some kind of sevens affair. It will be a real dogfight.”

England can call on the considerable strike-running threat of full-back Iain Balshaw after he missed the Scotland encounter due to a groin strain while number eight Martin Corry, has recovered from an arm infection.

Head coach Brian Ashton said: “Italy will take us on in the scrum and in the lineout, they will box-kick and will be very confrontational.

“Discipline is hugely important.

“I want us to start this game the way we started the second half against Scotland.”

Meanwhile Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has hailed England as the number one side in the world.

“England are still the world champions and that makes them the number one team in the world.

“We made a deal with England – we won’t touch Jonny Wilkinson if he doesn’t touch the ball!”

Victory over Italy will give England their first back-to-back Six Nations wins since they triumphed in Rome a year ago — with a trip to Croke Park looming large on the horizon.

Berbizier has made seven changes, bringing in Italy’s most-capped player Alessandro Troncon to replace the ineffectual Paul Griffen at scrum-half.