Key events
Tom Curry limps off before kick-off!
The mood has darkened ahead of the opening whistle as Tom Curry hobbles off with an injury during warm-up.
TBC who replaces him. Will share update ASAP.
We’ve had our first correspondenc and it’s from Paul Moody who is in Brazil.
“[I’ve got] mixed feelings as a London born fella. Had hopes for England , but they have met reality hard. Still hope excitement,
Canoa quebrada, ceara”
England team
Steve Borthwick has made nine changes to his team, more than any other England coach in the Six Nations.
Tommy Freeman is the only backline player to keep his place in the starting team but he’s been shifted to outside centre, joining Seb Atkinson who has been tasked with providing punch in midfield.
Elliot Daly starts at fullback with Fin Smith replacing George Ford – who misses out entirely – at fly-half. Ben Spencer replaces the injured Alex Mitchell at scrum-half.
The back row still looks light with Ben Earl and Tom Curry joined by Guy Pepper. Henry Pollock moves back to his usual spot on the bench.
Ollie Chessum’s on the wood too, alongside Sam Underhill and Marcus Smith.
England: 15 Elliot Daly; 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley; 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Alex Coles, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl.
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
Italy team
Juan Ignacio Brex returns to the midfield to continue his union with Tommaso Menoncello.
Alessandro Garbisi starts at scrum-half to partner his brother, Paolo, in. the half-backs.
Ange Cappuozzo is out of the match-day 23 with Tommaso Allan starting ont he bench and. Lorenzo Pani returning to fullback.
For the fourth game in a row, Italy’s starting pack remains the same.
Italy: 15 Lorenzo Pani; 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane; 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Garbisi; 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Michele Lamaro, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone.
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
Scotland have just put 50 on France!
Unreal. Of course that means nothing for our game here, but it underlines how bonkers this year’s Six Nations has been.
Anything could happen.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
From October 1991 until kick-off this afternoon, matches between England and Italy have been a forgone conclusion.
The two nations have met 32 times and England have triumphed on every occasion. The average score is around 40 points to 13. There have been drubbings of 67-7 in 1999, 80-23 in 2001 and 57-14 in 2019. Things have been tighter recently, and the last match in Rome ended with a three point margin, but the story has followed a predictable plot for 35 years.
That could change today.
England are on the ropes after heavy losses to Scotland and Ireland. Steve Borthwick has made sweeping changes to his team, more than any other England coach in Six Nations history. His players have looked disjointed, out of sorts and short of confidence.
Italy meanwhile have continued to impress. They fought hard to beat Scotland in a downpour and have been the only side in the first three rounds to provide something resembling a challenge to the French. They have arguably the best centre pair in the game, have astute operators in the halfbacks and now possess a pack that can mix it in heavy traffic.
England should still win. I’d be surprised if they don’t. Then again I wouldn’t be totally shocked if they fall to a third loss on the bounce. Not simply because of their own spluttering form but because their hosts have never been in a better position to finally complete the set in the Six Nations.
That’s a lot of words to admit I don’t know which way this is going. If you’ve got any clue please drop me an email. I’d love some help untangling this conundrum.
Kick-off at 4:40 pm GMT, 5:40 pm in Rome.
Teams and other updates to follow.
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