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Betfred Super League

Toulouse (6) 16

Tries: Ashall-Bott, penalty try, Laguerre Goals: Shorrocks 2

Wigan (18) 36

Wigan Warriors ran in four tries in 14 minutes as they overpowered Toulouse Olympique to maintain their 100% winning start to the Super League season.

Wigan made it four wins from four against Toulouse to reopen their two-point lead at the top after Warrington Wolves won on Friday to move level with them.

Zach Eckersley and Adam Keighran each scored two tries in Wigan’s first-half onslaught at the Stade Ernest-Wallon before Bevan French, Brad O’Neill and Sam Walters completed their scoring.

Super League newcomers Toulouse never gave up and their scores came from Olly Ashall-Bott, a penalty try and Benjamin Laguerre.

Wigan began like a team who had steamrollered their way to the top of Super League and opened the scoring after just eight minutes when Eckersley went over in the corner to crown a fine passing move.

Keighran missed the extra points, but it mattered little as the Australian powered over the line three minutes later and this time added the kick to make it 10-0.

Wigan were relentless and Keighran forced his way over again in the 16th minute to stretch the Warriors’ lead to 14-0.

He missed the extras from out on the right and failed for the third time in four attempts after Eckerlsey went over in the corner on 22 minutes to make it 18-0.

Toulouse tried to respond and French, deputising at full-back for Jai Field, who is recovering from an appendix operation, made a try-saving tackle on Ashall-Bott.

Ashall-Bott would not be denied, though, and crossed the line after collecting Laguerre’s kick on the stroke of half-time.

Toulouse tried to continue their comeback, but Wigan were just too good and French showed great strength to power over the line on 53 minutes to make it 22-6.

Toulouse refused to lie down and they were awarded a penalty try on 58 minutes when Liam Marshall tackled Ashall-Bott without the ball as he attempted to touch down. Shorrocks added the extra points to reduce Wigan’s lead to 24-12.

Back came Wigan two minutes later and 20-year-old Jack Farrimond showed what a star he will be as he burst through before setting up Brad O’Neill to crossas the lead increased to 30-12.

Still Toulouse kept going and Laguerre went over in the left-hand corner on 66 minutes, despite French’s tackle.

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott; Laguerre, Tropis, Rennie, Polselli; Lacans, Shorrocks; Belmas, Hands, Butler, Jussaume, Wallace, Marion.

Interchanges: Cator, Bretherton, Roumanos, Garrigues.

Wigan: French; Eckersley, Keighran, Farrell, Marshall; Farrimond, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.

Interchanges: Mago, Partington, Eseh, Kerr.

Italy (10) 23

Tries: Menoncello, Marin Cons: P Garbisi 2 Pens: P Garbisi (3)

England (12) 18

England’s Six Nations campaign plunged deeper into crisis as second-half yellow cards for Sam Underhill and Maro Itoje paved the way to victory for a joyous Italy in Rome.

It is a third successive Six Nations defeat for England and Italy’s first-ever win in the fixture after 32 unsuccessful attempts.

For head coach Steve Borthwick another uninspired and insipid performance, 18 months out from the Rugby World Cup, raises the most awkward and far-reaching questions.

England will go to their final-day meeting with France next week, earmarked as a possible Grand Slam decider at the start of the tournament, as minor characters attempting to somehow avoid their first single-win campaign in Six Nations history.

While England had made heavy weather of building a lead, they seemed well insulated against such a seismic shock with an 18-10 advantage and a little more than 20 minutes left.

However, Underhill was dispatched to the sin-bin for a high hit on Northampton’s Danilo Fischetti before captain Itoje followed for mindlessly slapping the ball out of Italy scrum-half Alessandro Garbisi’s hands.

England lost two players for 10 minutes and Italy gained momentum for the rest of the match, delivering the decisive blow eight minutes from time as Paolo Garbisi, Monty Ioane and Tomasso Menoncello combined thrillingly to put Leonardo Marin in under the posts.

At the final whistle, England’s players stood around stunned as the disco lights and celebrations erupted around them. Italy had claimed history – England look to an uncertain future.

Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando after suffering spasms in his lower back before he was due to start the third round.

The Northern Irishman’s exit was announced by the PGA Tour about 30 minutes before his tee time.

In a later statement, the five-time major winner said: “While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back.

“As I started hitting balls on the range before the round, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my lower back. Unfortunately, I’m not able to continue and have to withdraw.”

McIlroy held a share of ninth place – nine shots back – after moving to four under on Friday with a round of 68, having shot level par on Thursday.

Having birdied four of the first seven holes on the back nine, McIlroy had said he was “really pleased”, adding he had played a “controlled, patient round of golf”.

The 36-year-old, who was competing in his third PGA Tour event of the season, is due to defend his titles at the Players Championship at Sawgrass next week and the Masters at Augusta from 9-12 April.

His second-round score at Bay Hill had moved him up the leaderboard after an opening even par.

It is only the second time he has withdrawn from a PGA event mid-competition, with the first coming at the Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches in 2013.

American Daniel Berger was five shots clear of the field as a 68 moved him to 13 under.

He has not won on the PGA Tour since 2021, but is on course to land the £3m top prize.