As is now customary, the England team is announced on the Tuesday before the game.

England: Daly; Roebuck, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley; F Smith, Spencer; Genge, George, Heyes, Itoje (capt), Coles, Pepper, T Curry, Earl.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Chessum, Underhill, Pollock, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Wholesale changes, 12 in fact, following the Ireland debacle and it seems some of the pennies may have dropped for Borthwick Sadly some still haven't.

Questions have been raised a few times as to whether Dingwall is international class, in truth I feel not but he has been solid (saving the Ireland game and he wasn't alone there). So maybe a bit harsh, but no Ojomoh. Atkinson went well on the summer tour and was unlucky not to be used in the AIs and this 6N so maybe overdue. Is Freeman a 13? Well, no. He could be but I don't think international rugby should be the learning ground for perhaps the most complex defensive position on the field. He got found out against Scotland and the Eyetie centre pairing are bloody good.

Arundell out and replaced by Caden Murley. Not altogether surprising as Arundell's point of difference is his speed with ball in hand, but if you're not going to give him the ball in hand why pick him? Roebuck in to replace the shunted Freeman a pair of changes that make us weaker in both positions. Daly in for Steward at 15 is not altogether surprising although I felt that Furbank might get a go there. Hopefully this means that Borthwick has come to the conclusion about Steward that everyone else came to about three years ago.

On the bench LCD continues to have a charmed life which is an indictment of how Borthwick feels about the third choice hooker, Theo Dan. If he's not trusted now, after LCD's last two outings, when will he ever be? The tried and found wanting but still trusted Van Portvliet gets the back up 9 spot ahead of Raffi Quirke who at least has a point of difference. Underhill is a grinder of a player. He's a starter not an impact sub.

All in all this looks a very muddled, even panicked selection to me and I fear a first loss to this very good Italian team. If so heads should roll, but I doubt it.

@Catogrande that back row is going to get shat on around the park and the front row will be folded at scrum time. Has the hooker ever even thrown in to a lineout before?

I'm at the point where I simply don't trust the coaching team, did i want changes, yes of course, do i think these are the right ones? No idea, he's changed so many but hasn't really solved the problems i wanted him too:

re backs:

• Don't rate Spencer at this level anymore (if ever)
• Pleased about Finn Smith
• centres are just a jumble now, with no real idea of the best combo, not sure why Ojomoh was sent back to Bath, I don't know if Freeman is a centre but at this stage, he's needs to just be given a consistent run and stop buggering him about.
• Murley is good but its harsh to bring a green winger onto the end of a green and jumbled back line
• if Furbank is fit i'd like to have seen him at least on the bench but ideally start. I don't think Daly is good enough to start anymore.

re Forwards:

• how bloody lucky are they?
• I hope Genge has fronted up to his complete lack of engagement in the last 2 weeks, he's going to get marmalised in the scrum
• George was the only option at 2, LCD must have pics of SBs mum - all i hear about this bloke is how good he is at whatever he chooses to focus on, golf, play station etc, shame he hasn't bothered to focus on throwing a rugby ball.
• Itoje - no idea where his head is at tbh, hope its in the game on Saturday, happy enough with Coles.
• Back row, still lacks a big lump but will be stronger around the park than last week

bench - meh.

I am very worried about Brex and Menoncello just walzing through the middle. I am worried about the scrum. I am worried we're an unfit, unfocussed shambles. Italy by 7

@Bones said in 2026 6N - Italy v England:

@Catogrande that back row is going to get shat on around the park and the front row will be folded at scrum time. Has the hooker ever even thrown in to a lineout before?

@Catogrande this will not happen until the most retarded way of naming a team is halted or I am unalived.

@Bones

Good to see that you're no quitter.
<sigh>

Come on Italy

Genge completely plays the ref. Walks around completely, but had already pressured the ref beforehand.

Oh man, terrible by Ioane.

Should have gone for the corner.

England to score off the kickoff.

Melon-Liqueur scores a superb try under the posts,

Some stunning tries so far this WE

Ref losing his patience with England. Too much yapping?

Please please please do it Italy

Too early, England to score two more tries and win comfortably.

P.S. Mennoncello can have my babies.

Love it, Pollock and Smith come on. The first thing Smith does is secure a ruck, the first thing Pollock does is wave a ball past from flyhalf.

Italy not quite with the smarts yet. Several opportunities to play for the scrum which would take up a couple of minutes and don't take it.

That looked suspiciously in the side....

Take a kick for goal...

Surely that’s it

Ha ha ha

Fuck yes

Olimpico will be a fucking brilliant place to be right now. Outside the stadium will be an experience.

Fabulous stuff, well done Italy

Is it just me or did the refs in both this game and the France game favor the underdog?

But, fantastic result for Italy! Well done

Well this will make the Italian missus happy

@jimmyb said in 2026 6N - Italy v England:

Well this will make the Italian missus happy

Whose?

Just imagine if England named a front row instead of a back row and vice versa. They might not lose to the perennial wooden spooners.

Anyway, long live Borthwick.

@Bones said in 2026 6N - Italy v England:

Anyway, long live Borthwick.

When does he get the sack?

Crumbs, this is quite the result isn’t it ?

Great to see the pillock Pollock on the losing side again.

Well done Italy.

England were woeful, not able to beat a mediocre Italian team. The forwards were okayish but the backs were toothless. Worst backline of the competition, IMO.

Razor needs to take a long hard look at himself that he let this England team give the Allblacks such a towelling.

Italy 12 Menoncello is a big strong fast handful

@Jet said in 2026 6N - Italy v England:

Razor needs to take a long hard look at himself that he let his England team give the Allblacks such a towelling.

If only someone had pointed out that razor was just lucky his opposition were coached by Borthwick in his first series in charge.

@Bones said in 2026 6N - Italy v England:

@Jet said in 2026 6N - Italy v England:

Razor needs to take a long hard look at himself that he let his England team give the Allblacks such a towelling.

If only someone had pointed out that razor was just lucky his opposition were coached by Borthwick in his first series in charge.

And we went fucking life and death with them. Barely beat them.

And were a George ford missed pen (off the post) and drop goal away from losing the year before in Twickers.

The warning signs regarding Razor were there from day 1.

@Tim said in 2026 6N - Italy v England:

@Bones said in 2026 6N - Italy v England:

Anyway, long live Borthwick.

When does he get the sack?

Hopefully he keeps getting a saviour result every so often.

England no 8 winning the world cup after that scrum pen is a great look right now.