Jonny Wilkinson scored his 1,000th point for England as he guided the World Cup finalists through a hazardous Italian job and revived their Six Nations campaign.

The Newcastle Falcons fly half, criticised for his poor performance against Wales last weekend, kicked three penalties and converted early tries by Paul Sackey and Toby Flood. England, though, were almost guilty of another calamitous collapse. Having blown a 19-6 advantage to lose by seven points against Wales, this time Italy threatened to wipe out a 20-6 interval lead.

Simon Picone's late try - he charged down a kick by Wilkinson's replacement Danny Cipriani - plus 14 points from David Bortolussi, the Italy full back, ensured a tense finale.

England did just enough, even if their performance did nothing to alarm tournament favourites France, England's next Six Nations opponents in Paris on Saturday week. They prevailed, despite losing six players - Phil Vickery, Mike Tindall, David Strettle, Andrew Sheridan, Lewis Moody and Tom Rees - through injury or illness.

Vickery was the latest withdrawal, being laid low by a stomach bug that meant Steve Borthwick, the Bath lock, captained England for the first time and Matt Stevens joined the front-row.

England threatened to emphatically brush off those setbacks by claiming well-worked tries during the opening 15 minutes for Sackey and Flood, both after Wilkinson delivered the scoring pass. But the floodgates didn't open, and England fell way short of maintaining their 46 points per game average for the fixture in Rome.

England, given all their injury problems, needed a steady start against a fired-up Italian side and Wilkinson inevitably provided it, gathering his own kick in space and then sending Sackey sprinting clear to the line for a brilliantly conceived and executed try.

Wilkinson nonchalantly landed the touchline conversion, and although Bortolussi replied by kicking a long-range penalty, England could feel pleased with the initial exchanges. Italy though, were quick to use their forwards, and when Lesley Vainikolo, the England wing, was penalised for not releasing possession inside his own 22, Bortolussi kicked the three points.

It was a timely reminder to England of Italy's threat in the game, but the visitors came up trumps with a second try on 15 minutes. Jamie Noon, the centre, charged down Bortolussi's attempted clearance, and when he found Wilkinson in support, Noon's midfield partner Flood looped around cleverly to claim his second touchdown in successive Six Nations Tests.

Wilkinson's conversion brought up his 1,000th Test point, and England led 14-6 before Bortolussi drifted a drop-goal attempt wide.

Wilkinson then scored with two penalties as half-time approached, keeping a disappointing Italian side comfortably at bay and building the platform for an emphatic success.

England needed to ease back into their first-half rhythm, but a third Bortolussi penalty set the tone for a nervy second period for the visitors.