England took on Italy at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on March 9, 2025, aiming for their third consecutive victory in the Six Nations tournament. Having edged past France and Scotland with narrow wins, England was eyeing stronger attacking displays to bolster their standing. Meanwhile, Italy, with their head coach Gonzalo Quesada, was hungry to snap their losing streak against England, having not secured victory over them in their entire history.
The kickoff saw England make early attempts to assert dominance, but it was Italy who struck first. At just 13 minutes, Ange Capuozzo collected a clever chip from Paolo Garbisi, putting Italy on the scoreboard with their first try. Garbisi successfully converted, leveling the score at 7-7. Observers noted, “What is Capuozzo doing? England have possession just inside the Italian half and put the kick through via the boot of Daly,” as England scrambled to respond.
England's response was electric. Just minutes later, Tommy Freeman darted through Italy’s defenses, collecting the ball neatly after Capuozzo failed to track back quickly enough following his previous display of skill. Freeman scored England’s second try, successfully converted by Fin Smith, pushing England to 14-7.
Yet the momentum shifted again, showcasing the competitive spirit of the Italian side. Ross Vintcent displayed remarkable speed, collecting the ball after catching England on the hop and reached the try line, again leveling the score at 14-14 thanks to Garbisi’s second conversion. This was emblematic of Italy's willingness to exploit gaps and move swiftly, perfectly reflecting Itoje's pre-match point: “This week is about taking a step forward.”
Midway through the first half, England’s coach Steve Borthwick was forced to make tactical adjustments. Players Marcus Smith and Henry Slade were dropped from the starting lineup, as the coach opted to bring on Elliot Daly and Fraser Dingwall to energize the backline. Itoje reaffirmed the need for options at the line and touted the importance of courage: “We want options at the line. We want to go to where the space is.” Borthwick emphasized the intentions to improve England's attacking structures during the game with fresh players who could provide the needed pace and creativity.
Following several intense phases, Ollie Sleightholme came to the fore, scoring England’s third try after some rapid passing. Fin Smith executed another tricky conversion from the left touchline, earning England the lead at 21-14.
Throughout the match, England demonstrated moments of brilliance combined with lapses, indicating inconsistencies within their gameplay. Ongoing criticisms from past performances were directed at the style of play, particularly the team's reliance on box kicking. Maro Itoje responded to suggestions of ineffectiveness, stating, “I don't think our attack is as bad as everyone is saying it is.” He highlighted prior successes against stronger opponents, arguing, “Obviously we only scored one last time against Scotland, but that's not reflective of an attack.”
Nevertheless, Italy continued to charge forward. Their resilience was clear as they executed strategic plays, using the width of the pitch to their advantage, exemplified when Vintcent scored following Capuozzo's swift work to break through the defense. The match was becoming increasingly competitive, with emotions running high on both sides.
Despite Italy's energized play, moments of necessary caution came for the England side. At 26 minutes, England believed Italy had illegally stopped their maul when Itoje attempted to ground the ball, but the referee deemed it legal as both teams engaged. This decision highlighted the tactical challenges on the pitch and the need for discipline.
With halftime looming, the question on everyone’s lips was whether Borthwick's changes could take effect effectively and allow England to break the tight defensive lines Italy had so skillfully managed throughout the game. Notably, several penalties missed by Garbisi earlier offered England breathing room, but both teams were engaged at 21-14 when the whistle blew.
The start of the second half continued with frenzied action, as England sought to build on their lead. Yet, England fans cringed as Garbisi’s attempt to exploit gaps fell short of expectations, pushing Italy back onto the offense. With critics still whispering about Smith's dropping to the bench, the atmosphere remained electric. The stakes were high and the continued praises for Smith’s energetic style would be monitored closely by fans and reporters alike.
To conclude the match, England had demonstrated resilience, securing their third win amid fierce competition against Italy. Maro Itoje’s comments about the team's progress leading up to the match rang truer than ever, with both teams showing flashes of brilliance and areas needing improvement. What remained clear was this encounter highlighted both England’s struggles and potential, raising anticipation for their penultimate game against Ireland.