England will look to keep their Six Nations title aspirations alive by securing a pivotal victory over Italy at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Kick-off is set for 10:00 AM ET/7:00 AM PT.
Under the leadership of coach Steve Borthwick, England enters this match after narrowly eking out victories against Scotland and France, both by just one point. These results have rekindled hopes for their first championship crown since 2020. Yet, Borthwick's side faces mounting pressure to deliver, especially coming off the heels of Italy's humbling 73-24 defeat against France.
The recent form of England has been marked by contrasting performances—while they displayed resilience to win close matches, frustrating moments during the Calcutta Cup saw fans voicing their discontent, especially when England opted to kick possession rather than build attacking phases. Borthwick and his team are now tasked with squashing doubts about their style of play and delivering on fans' yearnings for more expansive rugby.
Italy arrives at Twickenham bruised but eager to redeem themselves after their recent loss. Coach Gonzalo Quesada has emphasized the importance of attacking play, and their previous encounter with France revealed moments of competitiveness—they even led 17-10 at one point during the match. Despite the eventual scoreline against them, Italy's commitment to playing an open game could prove dangerous if they replicate those early flashes of brilliance.
Match day will see England make significant changes to their lineup. Borthwick has opted to drop Marcus Smith and has brought Elliot Daly back to the starting team. This move marks Daly's first Test start as full-back since 2020, and it signals England’s intent to inject more attacking flair. Also making his starting debut for England will be Fraser Dingwall, who has been chosen to replace Henry Slade at centre, after Slade struggled during training leading up to the match. These alterations come with high expectations from fans who’ve waited to see the promised attacking style come to fruition. Adam Hathaway remarked, "We’ve heard [the promise of attacking rugby] before this tournament, but now fans expect to see it."
Jamie George will also reach a significant milestone as he earns his 100th cap for England, becoming only the seventh player from the team to achieve this feat. His experience and leadership will be pivotal as England look to secure their position within the Six Nations standings.
England's starting lineup features: 1 Ellis Genge; 2 Jamie George; 3 Will Stuart; 4 Maro Itoje (c); 5 Ollie Chessum; 6 Tom Curry; 7 Ben Earl; 8 Tom Willis; 9 Alex Mitchell; 10 Fin Smith; 11 Ollie Sleightholme; 12 Fraser Dingwall; 13 Ollie Lawrence; 14 Tommy Freeman; and 15 Elliot Daly. The replacements include Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Jack van Poortvliet, and Marcus Smith. This reshuffled squad is intended to respect fans’ wishes for more dynamic, running-based play, which could be the key to unlocking Italy's defense.
Italy, known as the Azzurri, will field their own selection hoping to capitalize on any missteps from the English. Despite their recent loss to France being heart-wrenching, Quesada's team is not devoid of fight. If they can unify and execute their game plan effectively, they could take advantage of the pressure on England and potentially cause an upset.
The importance of this match cannot be overstated. For England, securing victory means not just preserving their Six Nations title hopes, but also restoring faith among fans who demand attacking rugby. For Italy, this match marks their opportunity to break through against the only team they've never beaten in the Six Nations. A fresh slate lies before both teams, and as they prepare to clash, the promise of excitement looms.
Fans can catch this thrilling matchup on Peacock, NBC's streaming platform, which holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for every match of the 2025 Six Nations Championship. Subscriptions start at $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually, ensuring viewers don't miss any of the action on the field.
With anticipation building around this encounter, both teams are set to battle fiercely for the win. Can England rise to the occasion and silence the critics, or will Italy finally claim their long-awaited victory against the formidable English side? Only time will tell as the players take the field.