England enters their Six Nations 2026 clash with Italy carrying the weight of four defeats in five away games. The defending champions face a must-win match in Rome after consecutive losses to Ireland and Scotland. With title hopes fading, Steve Borthwick has made nine changes in a desperate bid to reverse England's alarming form and salvage their championship ambitions.

While England remain never lost against Italy in the Six Nations, their perfect record faces its sternest test yet. The Azzurri have evolved under Gonzalo Quesada, developing stamina, scrum power, and dangerous wide play that has exposed England's defensive vulnerabilities. Italy's narrow 27-24 loss to England two years ago remains their closest defeat in 35 years of this fixture.

Italy's Tommaso Menoncello leads the tournament in average gain and dominant carries, partnering with returning Juan Ignacio Brex in a formidable midfield. England's new pairing of Tommy Freeman and Seb Atkinson has never played together, creating uncertainty. The scrum battle could prove decisive, with Italy winning 19% of scrums on the opposition feed—their highest rate in Six Nations history.