sports
March 6, 2026
Stakes sky high for England as Italy eye Six Nations upset for the ages
England have beaten the Azzurri in all 32 meetings over the last 35 years but that record could slip in Rome on Saturday
TL;DR
- England has a perfect record against Italy in 32 previous meetings spanning 35 years.
- Recent defeats to Scotland and Ireland have put England under significant pressure.
- Italy has shown improvement under coach Gonzalo Quesada, despite scoring fewer tries in the current Six Nations.
- England's squad has undergone significant rotation, with new combinations needing to gel quickly.
- Key areas for England include pack performance, set piece, back row effectiveness, and ball carriers generating momentum.
- A loss to Italy could have psychological implications for a potential World Cup last-16 match.
- The manner of England's recent losses, rather than just the results, is a major concern for fans and former internationals.
- England needs to start strong against Italy to avoid repeating the pattern of being 'swamped by a wave of passion'.
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