England will be looking for a confidence-boosting win when they travel to Rome to face Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday.
Eddie Jones’ side were beaten by Scotland at Murrayfield on the opening weekend, the third year in a row that they have lost their opening match of the tournament.
It would be one of the biggest shocks in Six Nations history should England be beaten by the Italians, and Jones has urged his team to be ruthless as they look to get their campaign back on track.
England know they have it all to do after watching Wales and France win their second games respectively and need to inject some life into their Six Nations campaign. So far, they have been hugely frustrating. Still, losses for Scotland and Ireland offer some hope.
Italy kept it tight for the first 40 minutes against France last week, before eventually falling to defeat in Paris, and another long afternoon appears to be in store.
Italy vs England date, kick-off time and venue
Italy vs England kicks off at 3pm GMT on Sunday, February 13, 2022.
The match will take place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
How to watch Italy vs England
TV channel: Italy vs England is being broadcast live on ITV, with coverage beginning at 2:15pm GMT.
Live stream: Fans can also watch the match online via the ITV Hub or ITV website.
Live coverage: You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE match blog, featuring analysis from Simon Collings.
Italy vs England team news
Harry Randall has been handed his Six Nations debut at scrum-half, coming in for Ben Youngs who is in line to equal Jason Leonard’s record for the most caps for England (114) from the bench.
Youngs’ Leicester Tigers team-mate Ollie Chessum, the 21-year-old lock-cum-flanker, could make his Test debut from the bench.
With Tom Curry remaining as captain, there are a total of six changes of personnel, with two of last week’s starters moving positions. Joe Marchant swaps the left wing for outside centre, while Maro Itoje moves to blindside flanker in the absence of the injured Lewis Ludlam.
Jack Nowell replaces Elliot Daly in the backline, with Alex Dombrandt coming in for Sam Simmonds at No8. This will be Dombrandt’s first Six Nations start.
For the Italians, Braam Steyn comes into the starting XV, as do Frederico Mori and Pietro Ceccarelli.
Tommaso Menoncello, who scored a try in the opening defeat to France, is not named in the squad.
Italy vs England lineups
Italy XV: Padovani, Mori, Brex, Zanon, Ioane, Garbisi, Varney, Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ceccarelli, Cannone, Ruzza, Steyn, Lamaro, Halafihi.
Replacements: Faiva, Traore, Pasquali, Sisi, Negri, Pettinelli, Fusco, Marin.
England XV: Steward, Malins, Marchant, Slade, Nowell, Smith, Randall, Genge, George, Stuart, Ewels, Isiekwe, Itoje, Curry, Dombrandt.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Marler, Sinckler, Chessum, Simmonds, Youngs, Ford, Daly.
Italy vs England head to head history and results
Sunday afternoon will be the 29th meeting between the two teams, and England have won every single match so far.
Italy came close to enjoying some success in 2012, in what was their first Six Nations match at the Stadio Olimpico. They led an inexperienced England team 15-6 at half-time, before Stuart Lancaster’s side eventually battled to a 19-15 win. England then failed to score a try the following year at Twickenham, in a 18-11 victory.
It has been far more comfortable recently though, with England winning the last nine meetings by more than 20 points.
Italy vs England prediction
Italy have not won a Six Nations match since 2015, so it’s not a particularly brave prediction to suggest England should be comfortable winners in Rome.
As Max Malins has put it in the build-up: “We are expected to win — probably expected to win by a lot.”
England have made a habit of getting the Six Nations off to a poor start, but they look almost certain to get back to winning ways this weekend.
A bonus-point victory is expected of Eddie Jones’ side.
Italy vs England betting odds
Italy to win: 14/1
England to win: 1/25
Draw: 80/1
