But fair play to Italy who, of course, scored within a couple of minutes of the kick-off and never let our lads have an easy run-out.

Over the years the Italians have certainly battled fiercely to improve their stature within the championship and you've really got to admire their tenacity and staying power despite the odds stacked against them.

For England it was, I suppose, the easiest match of their Six Nations campaign but now they are really going to have their title chances examined as next up it's reigning champions Ireland in Dublin on Sunday week - and that, I expect, is going to be a cracker!

It'll certainly be an eye opener for the new boys in the England team who, so far, thankfully, have really settled into international rugby extremely well.

Particularly the likes of outstanding 23 year-old centre Jonathan Joseph who scored twice against Italy and who cut his rugby teeth playing for Park House School in Newbury and Newbury Blues before going on to another bastion of the rugby union game, Millfield School. Is Joseph the next Jerry Guscott ?

Fly-half George Ford also continues to impress and, once again, had another great game. He's only 22 next month, so think of the future that's ahead for him!

Meanwhile, Ireland showed good form in eventually beating France 18-11 last Saturday while Wales, chastened at losing to England in their opening match, certainly returned to form with a narrow but exciting 26-23 win over hosts Scotland at Murrayfield.

I must admit I like the way that they are now playing the matches over the complete weekend which gives everyone a chance to see most of them as they happen.

Well, of course, it was a rest week from the rigours of league rugby for the local club teams last weekend and a chance to nurse a few bumps and bruises.

It'll have definitely done my lads Reading good as they face in-form third placed Windsor at Home Park this Saturday.

And there is still plenty of incentive for our guys to come away with a good result as they are currently six points ahead of 11th-placed Maidenhead in the league standings.

I don't think that we are in any danger of going down this season but it would be nice to get one over our Berkshire rivals!

The only league game we had at the club last weekend was at home where our Vets `The Rhinos' faced Bracknell and ran out convincing 45-14 winners to push them up their league table.

While must of us took a break there was no such rest for some of the local younger players or indeed Redingensians Rams Director of rugby Mike Tewkesbury as his Berkshire U20 side, that he's so magnificently nurtured along for many a year now, were in RFU U20 Championship quarter-final action away to Devon at Ivybride RFC.

Mike's done such a great job with them over the years and it looks as though he's got another promising squad together as they saw off their hosts 26-16 to reach the national semi-finals.

They'll now face the Eastern Counties team - who upstaged the defending champions Northumberland 17-12 - at Cambridge RFC on March 15th. Good luck to them!

That's it for this week. Enjoy the weekend!