England sought to build on their recent momentum with the visit of Italy at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on March 9, 2025. After narrow victories over France and Scotland, Steve Borthwick's side aimed for a third consecutive win, yet they acknowledged they had not hit their peak form throughout the Six Nations campaign. England was determined to amplify their attacking strategy and address defensive issues against the Azzurri, who had faced considerable struggles following their defeat to France.
With his eye on victory, Borthwick opted to bench Marcus Smith and drop Henry Slade from the squad entirely. This decision stirred conversation among fans and analysts, as Smith had been the regular fly-half since the 2023 World Cup, when he was also shifted to full-back for the games against France and Scotland. Conversely, Elliot Daly made his return to Test rugby's full-back position for the first time since 2021.
The Italian side, led by Gonzalo Quesada, entered Twickenham seeking their groundbreaking first win against England. A heavy defeat against France, where the team conceded 11 tries, had dampened spirits, yet optimism remained due to the talent pool available to the roster. Quesada aimed for his players to regain collective discipline and demonstrate their full potential on the pitch.
Kickoff commenced at 3 PM. Early on, England's intensity paid off, with Jack Willis scoring the opening try just five minutes in. Following strong interplay between forwards and backs, Willis barrelled over for the score, and Fin Smith added the conversion, putting England up 7-0.
Italy did not remain subdued for long, and after recovering from initial pressure, they found parity when Ange Capuozzo finished what was termed by commentators as one of the best tries of the tournament, leveling the score at 7-7. The Azzurri's confidence surged, sparking hope of claiming their first-ever win over the Red Roses.
Both sides displayed determination and tactical prowess, and after several thrilling exchanges, Tommy Freeman managed to dance over for England's second try at the 28-minute mark. England regained the lead at 14-7, yet Italy's resilience continued to shine as Ross Vintcent equalized at 14-14 mere minutes later. The see-saw contest continued as Ollie Sleightholme crossed to score for England again, bringing the score to 21-17 as the game marched toward half-time.
Paolo Garbisi managed to slot home three points before the end of the first half, closing the gap for Italy, leaving the score at 21-17 as the players retreated to the locker rooms. The overall pace of the first half had excited the home crowd, with both sides demonstrating ambition dressed in the sunshine.
Upon resumption, England returned inspired, scoring twice within three minutes as Tom Curry marked his authority by scoring the first try of the second half, driving the score to 28-17 for the hosts.
Marcus Smith, who had recently come on after the tenth minute, contributed greatly as well, cutting through lapses within Italy's defense, adding to the agony for Italy by scoring shortly thereafter. By now, England had pulled away decisively at 35-17.
Despite relentless efforts, Italy faced difficulty keeping pace with England's offense. Ollie Sleightholme added try number six, demonstrating exquisite handling. By this point, Fin Smith's conversion success was met with enthusiastic applause as he boasted six successful attempts out of six.
The final score sat soundly at 42-17 for England, marking Borthwick's side stylishly clinching the comprehensive victory they had yearned for. Amid celebrations, Jamie George was honored as the match coincided with his 100th cap for England, culminating what had become more than just another contest but a memorable day for both teams.
Borthwick expressed pleasure at the performance as it demonstrated England's capability to generate more attacking moves and showcase effective teamwork. After this match, focus turns to next week as they face Wales with aspirations still alive for Six Nations glory, particularly as they aim to secure two bonus points to apply pressure on France, who currently lead the standings.
Italy, though defeated, showed resilience and heart throughout the contest, learning valuable lessons as 2025's Six Nations progressed. With fierce determination and talent on their roster, hopes linger for improvement as they prepare for their future matches.