Martin Johnson's side struggled to find any rhythm in a first half that finished 6-6 before Mathew Tait's well-worked score took them ahead.

While they scored 17 unanswered points when Wales were reduced to 14 men last week, they could not take advantage of Martin Castrogiovanni's second-half sin bin.

In the end they were struggling to hold on against a fired-up Italy who finished the stronger of the teams with two Mirco Bergamasco penalties bringing them to within two points of England in the closing stages.

The home side prompted by fly-half Craig Gower, made a bright start to the game, but it was opposite number Jonny Wilkinson who drew first blood with a tenth-minute penalty.

That was score was immediately cancelled out by Bergamasco who floated over his effort after Nick Easter failed to release in a tackle.

Although both sides were relying on the boot, England's back three of Delon Armitage, Mark Cueto and Ugo Monye did fashion a breakaway that was only stopped by the intervention of Gonzalo Garcia.

A poor opening to the match was summed up when Wilkinson missed two penalties, the second easily within his range, with Bergamasco also off target with an angled effort.

With England struggling to generate any attacking opportunities with their kick-chase tactics, Italy took advantage when they won a close-range lineout and spread the ball wide.

England again were penalised to give Bergamasco the simplest of three-opportunities that he did not spurn.

The visitors though saved their best move for the last play of the half when Armitage offloaded to the charging Riki Flutey who took the ball upfield and as England spread the ball wide Italy conceded a penalty.

Wilkinson finally found his radar and slotted a difficult kick to join Irish fly-half Ronan O'Gara in the Six Nations' 500-point club.

There was an instant opportunity for the Azzurri to regain their lead just after the break when Flutey was penalised for a high tackle but Gower was just short with a long-range penalty.

Then on 46 minutes England finally woke from their slumbers with a fine move involving Monye and Easter which was finished off by the speeding Tait down the lefthand touchline. Wilkinson continued his horrendous kicking form by missing the conversion.

It seemed England's game for the taking, especially once Castrogiovanni was binned for going in on off their feet and Wilkinson added a penalty but instead it was the Azzurri who found a second wind.

They brought themselves back into the game when Easter was caught offside and Bergamasco slotted a penalty to bring it to 9-14.

With eight minutes remaining Bergamasco slotted his fourth penalty of the afternoon to bring the hosts to within two points and the crowd to its feet.

But hopes of a famous victory were dented by a late Jonny Wilkinson drop goal and Italy could not find a late try that would have broken their losing run against England who will have to perform much better against champions Ireland.