6N 2024 - Italy v England

[Catogrande]

England squad announced:-

England: Steward; Freeman, Slade, Dingwall, Daly; Ford, Mitchell; Marler, George (capt), Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, Roots, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Genge, Cole, Coles, Cunningham-South, Care, F Smith, Feyi-Waboso

Considering Borthers has had 4, some could argue 5 enforced changes in the backs, he's still managed to be somewhat dreary in his selection. I like Ford as a 10 but to me the inclusion of him Daly and to an extent Steward means kick and chase. You'd think that against Italy first up with a new coach that this might be the time to pull the trigger on selecting a bit of pace in the backline. You know a couple of guys with a real attacking threat with maybe a bit of experience on the bench to come on if needs be. I can't see for the life of me what we will learn or how it will help out future planning to see Fin Smith and Feyi-Waboso for five minutes at the end v Italy.

In the pack, not much to argue about. The props don't inspire as an all round unit but this is an area which we are currently struggling, so sort of understandable. I'd have liked to see Pearson or Cunningham-South at 6 purely because that back row looks a bit lightweight. Roots being the biggest by far at 6'2" and 110kgs.

Overall I'm just a little bit underwhelmed and disappointed.

[Machpants]

The guardian is being very cynical

The quintet are Fraser Dingwall at inside-centre and Ethan Roots at blindside flanker, plus the replacements Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and the 20-year-old Chandler Cunningham-South. All five are eligible for other nations so Borthwick is capturing them for England provided those on the bench take to the field.

[Duluth]

15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti

Reserves: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Edoardo Iachizzi, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Lorenzo Pani

[sparky]

Italy - England in the Saturday afternoon sun in the Eternal City.

[sparky]

Start of the post-Farrell era for England.

[sparky]

Paul Williams whistling a merry tune. Two penalties in the first minute.

[sparky]

Allan with the early penalty.

Italy 3 England 0.

[sparky]

Try Italy. England defence opens up. Negri with the offload for Alessandro Gabbasi. 8-0 with the kick to come.

[sparky]

10-0 to Italy after 15 minutes. England asleep.

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Ford with a penalty kick.

10-3 to Italy.

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Elliott Daly scores in the corner his 19th Test try. 10-8.

[sparky]

Kicked missed. Italy keep a slender lead.

[sparky]

Allan with an excellent try. Kick over.

Italy 17-8 ahead.

They've never beaten England. Will that change this afternoon?

[sparky]

Ford with a penalty 17-11.

[sparky]

England kicking it too much. They need to keep it in hand and be patient.

[sparky]

Ford with a penalty chance. Over. England back within 3. 17-14.

[sparky]

Half time. Italy 17 England 14. Good contest.

[sparky]

Ethan Root on debut and Ben Earl have been the pick of the players for England.

The two Garbasis (9 and 10) have organised everything for Italy well.

[MiketheSnow]

@sparky said in 6N 2024 - Italy v England:

Allan with an excellent try. Kick over.

Italy 17-8 ahead.

They've never beaten England. Will that change this afternoon?

No

I’ve seen this movie before

England by 20

[sparky]

England hit the lead with a Mitchell try. Kick over. 21-17 to the visitors.