Any pre-match thoughts of making significant inroads into France’s points difference advantage was pushed from Twickenham’s minds in the first half as the visitors shot back with accuracy and flair.
Tom Willis had battered over for the fastest try of the championship in a little over three minutes, while Elliot Daly – picked ahead of Smith at 15 – claimed well in the air and hit some good lines and the front row emerged from the first scrum with a penalty.
There was not to be a replica of France’s 11-try round-three rout of the visitors, though.
Italy full-back Capuozzo was the beneficiary for their first try as clever kicks ahead by Paolo Garbisi and Monty Ioane found space and pulled England’s defence out of shape.
Capuozzo later turned creator, thrillingly slicing through England with a scalpel-sharp change of direction to open up a route for Exeter’s Ross Vintcent to canter over.
England traded blow for blow with a cute Daly grubber, putting Tommy Freeman into the corner before good work from Ollie Chessum down one wing created space for Sleightholme to dive in the opposite corner.
But, with Garbisi kicking a penalty to cut the hosts’ lead to four points and Lawrence – one of England’s strongest performers so far this year – having been carried off, the hosts knew they were deep in a fight at the break.
They could easily have been behind on the scorecards at the start of the second half as well.
Italy surged straight into attack and wing Matt Gallagher was zeroing in on the corner, only to be chopped down by the covering Smith, on at 15.
A little over a minute later, Smith pelted up on Curry’s shoulder to take a pop-pass and scorch round Capuozzo to make it 28-17.
The passage proved to be a decisive swing in the momentum. Curry burrowed over two minutes later and Sleightholme had his second soon after when some improvised offloading, including by Jamie George on his 100th England appearance, beat the cover defence.
With Fin Smith slotting all six conversions in an impressive performance off the tee, England motored 42-17 clear.
Menoncello and Earl’s scores provided footnotes, but, after three wins on home turf, thoughts were already turning to the mathematics and chances of snatching the title on the road in the final round.
