England travel to Rome on Saturday for a Six Nations match against Italy, holding an unblemished record of 32 wins in 32 meetings over 35 years. However, a loss at the Stadio Olimpico would mark a new low for Steve Borthwick's side, who have suffered consecutive defeats to Scotland and Ireland.
Italy, under coach Gonzalo Quesada, have shown improvement, despite scoring the fewest tries in this year's tournament. They pushed Ireland close in Dublin and secured a victory over Scotland in round one. Their scrum, led by tighthead Simone Ferrari, and lineout pose significant threats, while centres Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex could exploit England's midfield.
England have made nine starting personnel changes, a Six Nations record, but have little time to integrate new combinations. The team acknowledges costly errors in recent games, such as missed kicks and handling mistakes, but recognise that Italy's performance will also be a key factor.
Captain Michele Lamaro's Italy are expected to display strong emotion during the national anthem, and England must match that intensity to avoid being overwhelmed. A third successive defeat would be unforgivable for Borthwick's side, who are under mounting pressure to secure a win.
