England's Six Nations title ambitions technically remain alive after Martin Johnson's men battled to a 17-12 victory over Italy.
But few will be convinced England stand any chance at all of lifting the championship title after an unconvincing performance at the Stadio Flaminio.
Mathew Tait's try shortly after half-time illuminated an otherwise turgid clash and ultimately proved the difference.
Jonny Wilkinson had an off-day with the boot but he landed three penalty goals and a late dropped goal which finally killed off a spirited Italian rally.
The Azzurri had trailed 14-6 but pushed England to the brink with four penalties from Mirco Bergamasco.
Martin Johnson had spent all week warning his team it would have to be patient, that if there is one thing the Italians do well it is to drag their opponents into an arm-wrestle.
That is exactly what happened for long periods and it was the Azzurri who were far more comfortable and had they sealed a first victory over England, Johnson could not have complained.
England spent long periods of the first half embroiled in turgid bouts of tactical kicking that was reflected in the 6-6 half-time score.
However, when England brought its strike runners into the game, it caused the Italian defence problems.
Riki Flutey made an immediate impact on his return to the team at second five-eighths, sparking a first minute attack which almost led to a try for Armitage.
The England full-back, so critical of his own performance last week, stabbed a grubber kick behind the defence but Italian scrum-half Tito Tebaldi slid in with a last-gasp clearance.
Craig Gower, the Italian first five-eighths and former Australia rugby league international, orchestrated a positive response and the Azzurri were one pass from scoring after Alessandro Zanni had claimed a cross-kick above Ugo Monye.
England moved upfield and took the lead with a Wilkinson penalty after the Italian lineout, so poor against Ireland, malfunctioned again.
Bergamasco immediately levelled the scores after Nick Easter was penalised for not releasing.
The game was not much of a spectacle but when England did spot an opportunity it brought the likes of Armitage, Monye, Mark Cueto into the game far more than against Wales.
All three combined in a familiar England move, with Cueto bursting on to Armitage's inside ball, but Monye was stopped by an excellent cover-tackle from Gonzalo Garcia.
Wilkinson missed one long-range penalty attempt and then, inexplicably, booted a simple effort wide after another powerful run from Monye had put England on the front foot.
England conceded too many penalties at the breakdown but it too escaped when Bergamasco's attempt from wide right drifted across the face of the posts.
Tait got himself involved for the first time after another dominant lineout take from Easter, attacking the blindside to link with Armitage and Dylan Hartley.
Italy scrambled well to halt the attack and then proved why it is considered one of the most formidable packs in the world game by shoving the England scrum back and winning the turnover and a penalty.
When Monye was penalised for being in front of the kicker, Gower pushed England back into its 22 and the Italians attacked from clean lineout ball.
Under pressure, England conceded another penalty in the shadow of the posts and Bergamasco made no mistake to put Italy 6-3 ahead.
England was still showing flashes of adventure and when Wilkinson launched a counter-attack from his own 22,