Stuttering England beat Italy

London - Andy Goode marked his return to Test duty with a try as England began their Six Nations campaign with a 36-11 win over Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.

But they failed to show the kind of second-half ruthlessness one of the Tri-Nations would have demonstrated against a side they led 22-6 at the break.

The match was all but over as a contest at half-time with England comfortably ahead after tries from Goode, recalled scrumhalf Harry Ellis and centre Riki Flutey.

It took Goode, playing his first Test in more than two years, less than two minutes to score his first England try.

Italy hooker Fabio Ongaro over-threw at a lineout close to the Azzurri line and Goode regathered.

The ball was worked back before Goode chipped ahead and won the race to touch down for a try which the 28-year-old former Leicester back, now with French side Brive, converted.

However, he was off target with several subsequent goalkicks but Italy, seeking a first Test win over England, saw Andrea Marcato miss as well.

England went further ahead in the 18th minute when good hands from flanker James Haskell at a ruck let him release the speedy Ellis for a blind side try.

"It was a scrappy game. We need to recover during the week and look forward to playing Wales," said man-of-the-match Ellis.

"It's always the same in the first game back. We need to improve in every single area."

England manager Martin Johnson, speaking after his first Six Nations match in charge, was pleased by a result which followed a trio of November defeats at the hands of the Tri-Nations rounded off with a 32-6 thrashing by New Zealand.

"We won, which was nice after three losses," said England's 2003 World Cup winning captain.

"But the second-half was frustrating. We've lots and lots to improved on as a team," said Johnson, whose attack coach Brian Smith said the team had been put off by the noise of the crowd.

"When we stuck to what we wanted to do and executed we looked good," Johnson said. It's not rocket science, it's about execution.

"Next time we are in Cardiff (against champions Wales on February 14) and that will be a volatile, hostile atmosphere."

Injuries had led Italy coach Nick Mallett to play experienced back-row forward Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half and the dangers of that policy were all too apparent before he sent a pass above the head of centre Gonzalo Garcia.

Goode hacked on and Flutey gathered for what was the New Zealand-born back's first Test try. Goode converted and England were 19-0 up in the 28th minute.

Marcato then went off injured but the flyhalf's Australia-born replacement Luke McLean got Italy on the scoreboard with a couple of penalties before the break although Goode added one of his own.

Bergamasco was replaced at the interval by Giulio Toniolatti - an admission perhaps from former South Africa coach Mallett he'd erred in asking the 70-times capped Stade Francais star to play at scrumhalf.

Italy skipper Sergio Parisse refused to criticise the selection of Mauro Bergamasco at scrumhalf.

"I'm not going to talk about that. It was a choice made and everyone takes responsibility for this result."

England extended their lead in the 55th minute when Flutey burst down field and released Ellis through a gaping hole for his second try.

But despite being 23 points in front after Goode's conversion, England didn't really cut loose and with nine minutes left Italy wing Mirco Bergamasco, Mauro's brother, scored a deserved try.

However, there was still time for recalled England wing Mark Cueto, playing his first Test since having a try disallowed in the 2007 World Cup final defeat by South Africa, to score in the corner.

Johnson had to make two late changes this week.

Ellis, back from a six-week ban for a dangerous tackle on New Zealand star Dan Carter, replaced Danny Care, who suffered an ankle injury when slipping on the ice outside England's hotel.

And on Friday, England lost centre Mike Tindall, Johnson's fellow World Cup winner, to a back injury

Flanker Steffon Armitage made his debut, his inclusion alongside fullback brother Dillon seeing the pair become the first siblings to play in the same England team since Rory and Tony Underwood in 1995.