Italy pulled off their first-ever win over England at the 33rd attempt with a 23-18 victory at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, as the visitors slumped to a third successive Six Nations defeat after Leonardo Marin's try eight minutes from time. England had never looked as vulnerable coming into a game against Italy, after back-to-back defeats by Scotland and Ireland, and Steve Borthwick's much-changed side failed to hold onto an eight-point advantage in the second half.
England took a two-point lead into the break after tries from Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck, with one conversion from Fin Smith, while Tommaso Menoncello went over for Italy and Paolo Garbisi converted to add to his earlier penalty. Smith sent two penalties over to extend England's advantage and Italy looked to be on the ropes but they were revitalised by two Garbisi penalties and England's poor discipline, with Sam Underhill and Maro Itoje sent to the sin-bin.
Monty Ioane did well to gather a cross-field kick, Menoncello took the pass and raced ahead before finding Marin with an infield pass and Garbisi converted, with England guilty of errors late in the game as Italy held on for a landmark win.
Italy vs England latest news
- TRY! Marin puts Italians ahead late
- TRY! Roebuck recaptures lead
- TRY! Tommaso scores for hosts
- TRY! Freeman opens scoring
- How to watch: ITV
Ben Coles reports
19:05 , Oli GentPerhaps the worst part about this historically bad night for England is you knew it was coming. Their plan to double down on their kicking strategy and scrum almost worked, but in terms of their attack this team are a shadow of the outfit from the autumn. Discipline issues remain, with two yellow cards in Rome. Damningly, they improved in some areas and yet still lost. And now have to travel to Paris to face a hungry France gunning for the title.
Ben Coles' player ratings
18:53 , Oli GentFin Smith struggles, Maro Itoje subdued... Ben Coles was in Rome to rate the England players’ performances...
FT: Italy 23-18 England
18:34 , Oli GentThere we have it. Yet another defeat for England at this Six Nations, but this one might just hurt the most.
Italy 23-18 England
18:30 , Oli Gent79 mins: A minute to go before we hit the red. What do England have left to avoid a famous defeat?
Italy 23-18 England
18:26 , Oli Gent75 mins: Pollock and Marcus Smith are on. Five to go. What happens here?
Try! Italy 23-18 England
18:24 , Oli Gent73 mins: It’s there, and the hosts are in front with seven minutes to play! What a superb score, with a lovely kick out to Ioane to step inside, feed Menoncello, box off Daly, and he times his pass perfectly into Marin, who touches down. Garbisi adds two more.
Italy 16-18 England
18:23 , Oli Gent72 mins: Great sweeping from Murley to sweep up the Italy kick, and he drives into Lynagh who presses him high to slow the play down and get some support around him.
Italy 16-18 England
18:19 , Oli Gent69 mins: Chessum has replaced Underhill, whose yellow card has expired. Davison is on for Heyes.
Italy 16-18 England
18:14 , Oli Gent65 mins: Itoje is now in the bin for dipping his hand into the maul!
Italy 16-18 England
18:13 , Oli Gent64 mins: Nicotera is back on the pitch after his 10 minutes off. Underhill still has three minutes left of his sin-bin...
Italy 16-18 England
18:10 , Oli Gent62 mins: In off the post, and the hosts are within two!
Italy 13-18 England
18:09 , Oli Gent61 mins: Penalty! Italy force the error as Lynagh waits and gets in a good position, with England going in off their feet. Chance for Garbisi to slice the deficit once more.
Italy 13-18 England
18:07 , Oli Gent60 mins: Garbisi knocks the resulting penalty through the posts, and the hosts are within five. Van Poortfliet is on for Spencer, and Genge is replaced by Rodd.
Italy 10-18 England
18:05 , Oli Gent58 mins: Hmm... is that a high tackle from England’s No7? Where is the initial contact? Shoulder or head? It looks as though he’s clashed with Fischetti with his shoulder... and it’s a yellow!
Italy 10-18 England
18:04 , Oli Gent57 mins: Underhill could be in trouble as the TMO is having a look at something...
Italy 10-18 England
17:59 , Oli Gent53 mins: Yellow card is brandished by the referee, as Nicotera is sin-binned, using his elbow on the floor. England have a penalty, and the hosts are down to 14. Smith puts the penalty between the posts.
Italy 10-15 England
17:57 , Oli Gent51 mins: Good play from Lynagh to just about keep the dream alive for Italy with the wide offload, but Meloncello puts his centre partner Brex into a hole with a loose pass.
Italy 10-15 England
17:54 , Oli Gent48 mins: Play is pulled back for an alleged knock-on by Ioane under the high ball with Roebuck.
Italy 10-15 England
17:50 , Oli Gent45 mins: He gets it!
Italy 10-12 England
17:50 , Oli Gent44 mins: The five-metre results in another England penalty, and there’s a decision to be made here. Itoje votes to go for the posts, as Smith lines it up.
Italy 10-12 England
17:47 , Oli Gent42 mins: Massive problems for the Italians early doors as they make a real mess of a deep England kick. A tap and go penalty, with the ball over the line.. but it’s been dropped!
Kick off!
17:46 , Oli Gent41 mins: We’re back underway.
Ben Coles reports
17:42 , Oli GentSome improvements from England for sure. Cadan Murley must have won back three high kicks at least. Ben Earl is making more ground with his carrying. Tom Roebuck looks a threat. The scrum remains a punishing weapon. But they still go through large patches where they look very flat in attack.
HT: Italy 10-12 England
17:33 , Oli GentThere’s the interval, and the scoreboard is good reading for Borthwick’s men. It’s been an even first period, and there’s still plenty of time to go, but it’s looking positive at present. What will the second period have in store?
Try! Italy 10-12 England
17:30 , Oli Gent40 mins: Great intensity from England to level the scores, catching Italy out wide as Smith spins it out through the hands into Roebuck, who dots down. Smith converts.
Try! Italy 10-5 England
17:21 , Oli Gent35 mins: The hosts are ahead, and Meloncello has the try! England are split through the middle, with a perfect pass and line from the centre, who darts in and speeds home.
Italy 3-5 England
17:15 , Oli Gent30 mins: Quesada is furious in the Italy coaching box as Pani makes a hash of his clearance, and the visitors can put some pressure on after their opening score.
Try! Italy 3-5 England
17:13 , Oli Gent26 mins: It’s there, and England are ahead. Tommy Freeman runs it in, with a neat move down the left. Straight through the hands into the winger, who dots down. Smith can’t add the extras.
Italy 3-0 England
17:07 , Oli Gent23 mins: He gets it!
Italy 0-0 England
17:06 , Oli Gent22 mins: Penalty, Italy. An offside against Earl, and a chance for the hosts to get the scoring underway. Garbisi is going for the posts.
Italy 0-0 England
17:05 , Oli Gent21 mins: George is getting some treatment as he’s taken a whack to his right shoulder and wrist, it seems. Might Borthwick be forced into another pack change? The referee is trying to speed him up and usher him off the pitch.
Italy 0-0 England
17:02 , Oli Gent19 mins: Ioane makes a dangerous break down the left and looks to chase his lob over the top, but Roebuck is there to sweep up. A big chance missed!
Italy 0-0 England
17:00 , Oli Gent17 mins: England win the penalty from a long scrum, with Ferrari guilty of trying to slip his shoulder past Genge, and the visitors celebrate that wildly.
Italy 0-0 England
16:58 , Oli Gent15 mins: Free Italy ball following the England knock-on, as Lynah screams for it inside. Brex looks for the kick as Meloncello gathers, but the chance is snuffed out.
Italy 0-0 England
16:54 , Oli Gent13 mins: Genge has been bandaged up after a collision, and England have a scrum, where he will battle Simone Ferrari. The visting backs are ready to pounce here, but the England pack are a bit over-eager, with a penalty for the hosts.
Italy 0-0 England
16:51 , Oli Gent10 mins: A good dart by Freeman down the right, but England aren’t able to win the ball back legally as the offload goes awry.
Italy 0-0 England
16:47 , Oli Gent6 mins: Inventive from Daly who looks for Murley in behind with the grubber, but the wing is beaten to it by Garbisi.
Italy 0-0 England
16:45 , Oli Gent5 mins: Up and under from Spencer as Murley gives chase and does well to win the knockdown. There’s a knock-on from the hosts, and England have a scrum just shy of the 22.
Italy 0-0 England
16:44 , Oli Gent3 mins: A strong start from the visitors, with good kicking and territorial gain straight off the bat.
Kick off!
16:41 , Oli Gent1 min: We are underway.
Five minute warning
16:35 , Oli GentThe teams are out, and it’s time for the anthems.
10 minutes to go
16:30 , Oli GentWho will win this one?
Underhill to come in
16:19 , Oli GentSam Underhill replaces Curry in the back row.
Scotland vs France
16:15 , Oli GentWhat happened at Murrayfield? Who won that thriller?
Not good news...
16:14 , Oli GentTom Curry limping out of England’s warm-up… pic.twitter.com/HYl8Xnq3Xs
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) March 7, 2026
What has Borthwick said?
16:10 , Oli GentOn his team selection, the England head coach said: “We’re expecting a big test in Rome and it’s one the players are really looking forward to.
“We know the challenge Italy will bring at the Stadio Olimpico, and we’ve selected a team we believe will deliver the level of performance we’re striving for.”
Among the replacements
16:02 , Oli GentMarcus Smith joins Jack van Poortvliet as the only backs on the bench, with the latter unable to crack the starting XV despite Alex Mitchell being ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.
In the pack...
15:54 , Oli GentA similar policy has been employed in the forward pack. Luke Cowan-Dickie was tactically removed in the first half against Ireland and few will be surprised to see that he does not keep his place in the XV, with Jamie George preferred.
Henry Pollock drops back to the bench after making his full Test debut last time out, with Ben Earl stepping up to complete a half-century of caps.
At the back...
15:47 , Oli GentBen Spencer and Fin Smith get the nod as a new-look half-back combination, with Six Nations debutant Seb Atkinson - who has just two England caps to his name - partnering Freeman in midfield. The back three consists of Cadan Murley and Tom Roebuck, with Elliot Daly at full-back.
Bold calls from Borthwick
15:40 , Oli GentAfter the calamity against Ireland at Twickenham, Borthwick has gone back to the drawing board and dropped four big players from his matchday squad entirely.
Out go Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell, Freddie Steward and George Ford.
Six Nations: All you need to know
15:34 , Oli GentEverything you need for the rest of this year’s tournament...
About last night...
15:19 , Oli GentIreland beat Wales in a tricky test for Andy Farrell’s men yesterday evening to keep their title hopes alive.
Also today!
15:13 , Oli GentScotland take on France in a mouth-watering clash at Murrayfield this afternoon.
Italy vs England live
15:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe atmosphere is bubbling up ahead of kick-off.
Italy lineup
14:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly XV: Pani; Lynagh, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; P Garbisi, A Garbisi; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari; N Cannone, Zambonin; Lamaro (c), Zuliani, L Cannone
Replacements: Di Bartolomeo, Spagnolo, Hasa, Ruzza, Favretto, Fusco, Marin, Allan
England lineup
14:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneEngland XV: Daly; Roebuck, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley; F Smith, Spencer; Genge, George, Heyes; Itoje (c), Coles; Pepper, Curry, Earl
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Chessum, Underhill, Pollock, Van Poortvliet, M Smith
Today's settings
14:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe Stadio Olimpico in Rome stages this afternoon's Six Nations showdown.
Italy vs England latest match odds
14:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly to win: 12/5
England to win: 4/11
Draw: 20/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Head to head (h2h) history and results
14:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly are the only team in the Six Nations never to have beaten England. Last year’s meeting ended 47-24 in favour of the Red Rose at Twickenham.
Italy wins: 0
England wins: 32
Draws: 0
Score prediction
14:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneEngland’s Six Nations campaign hinges on this match, and Borthwick will hope that his selection gamble pays off against this rejuvenated Italy side.
The much-changed team can only be a positive after such a dour performance against Ireland, but with so much rotation and some of the squad’s most experienced players left out, one wonders if Borthwick has overplayed his hand.
Italy, granted, are the second-weakest team in this competition, but they have shown their ability to match the quality of both Scotland and Ireland for long stretches.
There is little to suggest Italy cannot do the same against England - but it will be a close match.
Italy to win, by five points.
England team news
14:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneFollowing a dismal performance in the defeat by Ireland, Steve Borthwick has decided to start afresh. He has made 12 changes to his England team to face Italy - nine personnel and three positional.
It is the most changes ever made by an England coach between two Six Nations games. Only captain Maro Itoje, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Tom Curry, Ben Earl and Tommy Freeman keep their places.
Italy team news
14:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly show three changes from their loss to France in Lille, with Juan Ignacio Brex back in midfield and resuming his partnership with Tommaso Menoncello after a period of absence due to personal reasons.
Ange Capuozzo suffered a shoulder injury against France as Lorenzo Pani deputises at full-back, with Leonardo Marin also dropping out.
How to watch
14:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTV channel: In the UK, Italy vs England is being shown live and free to air on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 3.35pm GMT.
Live stream: Fans can also watch the game live online via the ITVX website and app.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Italy vs England live
14:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Italy vs England!
England face another tricky test as they look to salvage their Six Nations campaign, facing Italy at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 4.40pm GMT, which is 5.40pm local time. Stick with us!
