England vs Italy: Kick-off time, how to watch, team news and lineups

England play their last residence fixture of the 2025 Six Nations as Italy go to Twickenham within the penultimate spherical of motion on Sunday.

It’s been a moderately unusual marketing campaign thus far for Steve Borthwick’s inconsistent facet, who led at half-time away in Eire in spherical one earlier than being blown away thereafter however making certain a late bonus level, then severely driving their luck at residence to France and Scotland however popping out on the successful facet on each events in direct distinction to a irritating 2024 by which they performed significantly better however misplaced so many shut video games in opposition to top-tier opponents.

Whereas these wins eased the stress that had been constructing on Borthwick, a robust end to the Six Nations is required and England will know forward of kick-off whether or not they can maintain their faint title hopes alive heading into a visit to Wales on Tremendous Saturday, with a victory for France wanted of their large battle with Grand Slam and historic three peat-chasing Eire in Dublin. An Eire win in that contest removes all drama from proceedings with solely a visit to Rome left on their schedule.

Italy head to south-west London having fallen brief with a spirited second-half comeback at Murrayfield on opening weekend earlier than displaying extra progress in a deserved residence win over determined Wales, solely to then concede 73 factors – the second-most in a match in Six Nations historical past – in an embarrassing defeat by France final outing that evoked recollections of the powerful outdated days of Italian rugby.

England vs Italy takes place on Sunday March 9, 2025 at Allianz Stadium Twickenham in south-west London. Kick-off is at 3pm GMT, or 4pm CET in Italy.

TV channel: England vs Italy is being broadcast reside and free-to-air within the UK on ITV1, with protection starting at 2:15pm GMT.

Dwell stream: ITVX may also be offering a free reside stream service on-line, with solely a registration wanted.

Dwell weblog: Comply with the sport on Sunday with Customary Sport’s reside weblog.

England’s solely different change from the 16-15 win over Scotland by which Finn Russell dramatically missed a late conversion – his third of the day – is within the centres, the place the established Henry Slade-Ollie Lawrence partnership is damaged up as the previous makes means for Fraser Dingwall.

That implies that 5 of the beginning backline are team-mates from Northampton Saints, and it could absolutely be six if George Furbank weren’t presently out injured.

The pack is unchanged, with former captain Jamie George set to earn his a hundredth Check cap at hooker, whereas Tom Curry and Tom Willis have each confirmed their health to start out within the again row.

It’s a 6-2 bench break up once more from Borthwick, however with Jack van Poortvliet changing Harry Randall as scrum-half cowl.

Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has made six adjustments to the group thumped by France, with Monty Ioane getting back from damage on one wing and former England Underneath-20 worldwide Matt Gallagher – son of New Zealand’s 1987 World Cup winner John Gallagher – on the opposite as he makes his Six Nations debut.

Ange Capuozzo switches to full-back as Tommaso Allan drops to the bench and Simone Gesi from the squad altogether.

Stephen Varney replaces Martin Web page-Relo at scrum-half, whereas within the pack Giacomo Nicotera is again in at hooker for Gianmarco Lucchesi and Marco Riccioni replaces Simone Ferrari at tighthead prop.

The opposite change is within the again row, the place Ross Vintcent is most popular to Lorenzo Cannone at No8. Jacopo Trulla drops out of the squad together with Alessandro Garbisi.

England XV: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart; Itoje, Chessum; T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Italy XV: Capuozzo; Ioane, Brex, Menoncello, Gallagher; P Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Riccioni; N Cannone, Ruzza; Negri, Lamaro (c) Vintcent

Replacements: Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Ferrari, Favretto, Zuliani, L Cannone, Web page-Relo, Allan

England are the one group remaining within the Six Nations by no means to have misplaced to Italy, popping out on high in all 31 earlier conferences courting again to 1991.

Italy’s final journey to Twickenham in 2023 ended with a 31-14 bonus-point victory for the hosts, the primary of Borthwick’s teaching tenure.

It’s tough to make a correct evaluation of Borthwick’s England for the time being or certainly get an correct deal with on what the true expectations are, with shut defeats after usually good performances and fortuitous slender wins after unhealthy.

Victories over Italy and Wales would see them obtain the feat of 4 Six Nations wins that appeared very formidable when initially set by the RFU earlier than the event and proceed to make Borthwick’s job safer, whereas they technically go into spherical 4 nonetheless alive within the title race – although Eire could effectively have one thing to say about that on Saturday. Even when they don’t, England would want to attain a complete lot of factors to genuinely have a shot.

However there’s not a lot pleasure and optimism across the place regardless of the shock last-gasp win over France and wrestling again the Calcutta Cup for the primary time since 2020, with followers clearly remaining sad with the type of play and nature of their performances, which includes few phases and a hell of plenty of kicking, as informed by the audible booing that greeted an umpteenth Alex Mitchell field kick in opposition to Scotland at Twickenham.

Scotland dominated a lot of the sport a fortnight in the past and showcased a model of rugby that may quieten even probably the most hardened naysayers at HQ, with England’s assault so painfully stilted once more and no likelihood at sustained ball in hand for any of their fundamental threats, a serious regression on the encouraging enhancements seen in opposition to France.

It typically appears that England can by no means handle to marry a strong defensive show with an thrilling attacking displaying, however they’ve the prospect to alter that this weekend in opposition to an Italy group who shouldn’t be underestimated, scoring some nice early tries in opposition to France and boasting probably the greatest centre partnerships round in Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex, however who confirmed their lingering vulnerabilities in that thrashing by France.

Dropping Marcus Smith feels harsh and the adjustments made are hardly prone to get supporters overly excited, however there may be greater than sufficient high quality and attacking nous within the group to placed on a little bit of a present, whereas the heavy Northampton contingent ought to enable for spectacular again cohesion. However will they be allowed to alter up their type and take the handbrake off to show a degree to the doubters?

England to win, by 15 factors.

Odds through Betfair (topic to alter).