Italy v England - Teams and Prediction
ROUND FOUR PREVIEW: Steve Borthwick will want to avoid a third straight defeat against a plucky Italian team that has shown, as of late, that they can take down big names on any given day.
What started full of promise turned into a nightmare campaign for England, following back-to-back defeats to Scotland and Ireland that all but ended their hopes for a first Six Nations title since 2020, unless some unlikely favours go their way in the other two fixtures.
Italy won’t be an easy task either, but England’s Jamie George is relishing the prospect of facing a resurgent Azzurri when his faltering side heads to Rome on Saturday, looking to salvage their Six Nations.
Steve Borthwick’s team came into the tournament on an 11-match winning run and with hopes of heading to Paris in their final match in the hunt for the title, or better still, the Grand Slam.
Instead, they face an Italy side confident that they can finally end their England hoodoo after 32 defeats in as many matches.
“Rome is always a difficult place to play, but with this Italian team looking the way they do, it’s going to be the toughest test that England have ever had against Italy. But bring it on,” the vice-captain said.
“Times like these – and I would rather not have them, obviously – but they are genuinely the most enjoyable times to be part of a team. You learn a huge amount about people,” he added.
“It can be a defining moment for a team moving forward — and I think it will be.”
Borthwick has rung the changes since their humbling 21-42 mauling by Ireland at Twickenham, bringing nine new faces into the starting XV.
Flyhalf George Ford has been dropped from the matchday 23 altogether after two wayward performances.
His attempted drop-goal was charged down against Scotland as England tried to mount a comeback, allowing Huw Jones to streak away and open up a three-score lead.
And he missed two penalty kicks to touch early on against Ireland, costing England attacking positions before the team’s defence and discipline collapsed.
Finn Smith will start at flyhalf with a completely revamped back three in which Tommy Freeman is the only player to keep his place, albeit with a positional switch.
Two ‘blips’
Regardless of the two previous defeats, hooker George is convinced that the team which beat New Zealand 33-19 in November and inflicted on champions France their only defeat in last year’s Six Nations, remains on the right track.
“We are going to be a brilliant team over the next couple of years,” he said.
“It’s probably been a characteristic of the team over the last 12 months that we’ve looked really together and really tight. These two results are blips.
“We are not a million miles away from looking like the team we need to be, but we need to double down on what we’ve been over the last 12 months.”
Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has welcomed back powerful centre Juan Ignacio Brex to his team, but has lost outside back Ange Capuozzo to a bad shoulder injury.
His pack has been hugely impressive in this tournament, with South African former coach Nick Mallett telling AFP they are the “strongest” in the Six Nations.
Like England, they come into the match after one win and two defeats.
Despite the negativity around England, Quesada is not going to underestimate them.
“They’re an interesting team,” he said.
“They win more penalties than anyone else, they have gained the most metres with ball in hand, they’ve had the most dominant tackles, they slow down the [opposition] ball the most in the rucks, and at the same time get their own ball out the quickest.
“So, even though they lost, they are doing many things well.
“We know what their strengths and qualities are, and we know they’re going to show their best version.”
Players to watch
For Italy: The wing combination of Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane is lethal when offered the slightest of gaps, and it will be up to their centres, Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex, to create those gaps for them. Italy’s scrum has been mightily impressive, especially against Ireland and will need another big effort from the entire pack to face a solid England scrum.
For England: Similar to Italy, their front row of Ellis Genge, Jamie George and Joe Heyes will have to lay the platform to nullify the dangerous Azzurri pack. Ben Earl’s ability to break tackles will be key to getting his team over the gainline, and all eyes will be on Fin Smith, who replaces George Ford in the No.10 jumper.
Prediction
Rugby365: England by 10 points
Teams
Italy: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Michele Lamaro (captain), 5 Andrea Zambonin,4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti, caps
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Federico Ruzza,20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Tommaso Allan
England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tommy Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Guy Pepper, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie Georgie, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith
Date: Saturday, March 7
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 17.40 (16.40 GMT; 16.40 UK time)
Expected weather: A high of 18 degrees Celsius and a low of 10 degrees Celsius with a chance of light rain showers and wind from the south west.
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
