Marcus Smith came off the bench to score one of England's seven tries as they beat Italy 47-24 for a bonus-point win at Twickenham on Sunday that maintained their Six Nations title hopes heading into next weekend's final round.

After France knocked reigning champions Ireland off the top of the table with a 42-27 victory in Dublin on Saturday, England needed a bonus-point success to go second before their March 15 clash with struggling Wales in Cardiff.

England, now a point behind France, will still require Scotland to do them an unexpected favour against Les Bleus in Paris, but they now have a chance to win their first Six Nations title in five years.

England were outscored three tries to one in a 16-15 win over Scotland at Twickenham last time out after they edged France 26-25.

But on Sunday they outscored Italy three tries to two in an open first half to narrowly lead 21-17 after Tom Willis, Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme all crossed the Azzurri line.

But against an Italy defence that had conceded 11 tries -- the most by one side in a Six Nations match -- during a 73-24 thrashing by France in Rome a fortnight ago, they ran in four more after the break.

Marcus Smith secured the four-try bonus point before flanker Tom Curry went over and Sleightholme completed a double and Ben Earl crossed with the final play of the game.

Fin Smith landed six out of seven conversions, only failing to add the extras to Earl's score at the finish.

"We wanted to get five points and win the game," England captain Maro Itoje told ITV. "We wanted to move the ball, find space and be aggressive with ball in hand."

- 'Do what we have to do' -

England can win the title if they beat Wales, on a national record losing streak of 16 straight Test defeats, and other results go their way.

But wary Saracens lock Itoje said: "We just have to do what we have to do. Wales in Cardiff is a massive game, it is a tough place to go."

Defeat meant Italy, who worried Itoje's men at times, have now lost all of their 32 Tests against England.

"We lost a bit of consistency during the game," said Italy captain Michele Lamaro. "We had some brilliant moments but we switched off in periods."

Marcus Smith was England's fly-half in their tournament-opening defeat by Ireland before coach Steve Borthwick moved him to full-back, with Fin Smith taking over at No 10.

But on Sunday, Marcus Smith was on the bench only to come on in the ninth minute when centre Ollie Lawrence went off injured after catching his foot awkwardly in the turf.

it took England just three minutes to open the scoring when, following a break by Freeman, No 8 Willis stretched over the line.

But as England regrouped after Lawrence's injury, Italy scored next when Monty Ioane produced another chip over the cover, with onrushing full-back Ange Capuozzo regathering cleanly for a 13th-minute try that fly-half Paolo Garbisi converted to tie things up at 7-7.

But a superbly weighted grubber kick from Elliot Daly, who moved to midfield from full-back after Lawrence's injury, allowed the sprinting Freeman to score a try.

Italy, however, hit back just four minutes later, with Capuozzo gliding through before No 8 Ross Vintcent sprinted clear for a fine try.

England, with lock Ollie Chessum impressing up front, however, had their third try when, after scrum-half Alex Mitchell's quick tap penalty, Marcus Smith's long cut-out pass sent wing Sleightholme in at the corner.

Italy turned round just four points behind following a successful Garbisi penalty.

The second half was just three minutes old though when Curry found fans' favourite Marcus Smith, who stepped his way forward before surging clear.

Sale flanker Currey powered over in the 49th minute before, moments later, hooker and former captain Jamie George, winning his 100th England cap on Sunday, set up Sleightholme's second try.

Tommaso Menoncello's try 10 minutes from time reduced Italy's deficit but that was little consolation for an Azzurri side who finish the Six Nations at home to Ireland -- still in title contention on 14 points.

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