Italy v England: Six Nations 2026 – as it happened
I’m still slack-jawed.I said at the start that I wouldn’t be shocked if Italy won, but that’s clearly not the case.History made.What a night for Italian rugby.A new low for England and Steve Borthwick who must be wondering if he’ll still have a job in two weeks.
Rob Kitson was lucky enough to be there and has produced a report worthy of the occasion.Thanks for joining us this weekend.Now let’s hear from Maro Itoje, who must want to be anywhere else right now:double quotation markIt’s obviously disappointing.It’s on us as players.We have to wear the performance.
This team over the last year has put in good performances.We haven’t recently.We have to face that and get back to work.We have to figure it out.If we knew why we wouldn’t be in this position.
Teams go through tough periods.We’re in a tough period now.We’re in a results based business and we have to own the result.As captain I take responsibility for that.Here’s Italy’s wonderful captain, Michele Lamaro:double quotation markObviously there was a lot of tension before the game.
We felt we were close so felt tension and were nervous,But during the game we built that confidence and stuck close to them the whole game,Then when they got those two yellow cards we managed to get over the line,We fought together as always and that was the most important thing,There are two main turning points.
One in the first half when they scored their try.We stuck together when they got momentum and we were a wall.And straight after that we scored after that and the second yellow card.Imagine the celebrations in that dressing room? I’m not sure there is enogh Frascati in all of Rome.More reaction from readers:“It was a dreadful decision by the ref at the end but it was Underhill’s indiscretion when England were in top that swung the match,” adds Tony Mason.
Who else do you want to hear from other than the great Sergio Parisse?Here he is on ITV:double quotation markIt’s a great feeling.For all the Italian supporters.For myself.This team had the belief.They have earned the respect.
Italy move ahead of England on the table.They’ve got nine points to England’s six.And with England going to Paris and Italy playing Wales next week, their positions might not change when all the beans have been counted.What a day of rugby.Who saw any of this coming?Scotland hammered France.
Italy rewrote history by beating England.Don’t you just love this sport?England were much better and perhaps will feel that they were robbed given the shocker of a decision at the end, but that won’t cool the heat that will come.Where do England go from here?Let’s get some reaction from readers:“That is a shambolic decision from the referee.The Italian player was off his feet playing the ball.Outrageous decision to penalise England there,” says.
Joshua Keeling, who also adds:“Deserved win for Italy, albeit finally secured by that terrible decision from the referee at the end,”I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Borthwick out,This has been a shambolic five weeks for English rugby,”They’ve done it! They’ve finally done it!After 32 Tests,After 35 years.
Italy have finally beaten England.They did it with two stunning tries.That last one from Marin eight minutes from time was a proper worldie, one worthy of ending such a long and sorry run.History made!80 min: Garbisi kicks out.He finds touch.
The line-out is won…80 min: ITALY WIN THE PENALTY ON THE FLOOR! Is that the game? England made about 80 metres but they ran out of puff and Italy picked their moment.Freeman isolated and Lamoro comes in and wins the ball.Was he off his feet? Was he from the side? Perhaps on both counts.English fans will no doubt feel aggrieved by that.79 min: Another long kick from Italy forces England back to their own 22.
They have to strike from deep.Murley and Freeman combine to get over the 22.Five phases and they’re over halfway.Chessum makes a great run.They’re almost up to the 22.
78 min: Italy still with the ball.They’re not quite in drop goal range so they kick high.Ioane almost gets there but England have inside their 22.They kick it long but Allan mops up.There’s an England spill so Italy have the advantage if nothing else.
77 min: Italy win the line-out and then kick high.England knock on in the air.Italy on the ball on halfway are in no rush.Another high kick, another English knock-on.This one from marcus Smith.
Italy on the ball just short of England’s 22,76 min: F Smith looks for Roebuck with a cross-field kick but he’s too long with it and it’s straight out,This will give Italy a line-out 10 inside their own half,A few of them are getting treatment,My word, is this actually happening?!74 min: England need to dig deep here.
They have a line-out just beyond halfway.Pollock, off the bench, peels around the back and England get a move on.They’re inside Italy’s 22.The ball is messy and lose and Atikinson is suddenly nailed by Allan around halfway.England look very rushed.
Which is fair.Now they hoist a high kick and win the ball back thanks to Murley’s great chase.On the ball inside Italy’s half.WHAT A STUNNER! My word, what a try! A cross-field kick finds Ioane.Rather than pass he regathes and finds his feet and runs ahead from the left wing.
He then stitches it together for Menoncello who shoes great strength under contact.He runs ahead of the English before passing infield for Marin, fresh off the bench, to score.Brilliant.Garbisi adds the extras.What.
A.TRY!70 min: This time Ioane doesn brilliantly under the high ball and Italy are back on it inside their half.Fusco hoists another high ball that is won back by Daly.Van Poortvliet returns the favour and England win that ball.A lucky bounce has England on the ball inside the 22.
Can they win the game here? NO! They’re turned over,Italy kick long,Lynagh chases after it but Murley gets there first inside England’s half,69 min: Ioane fluffs a high ball so Italy are back in their own 22,They eventually clean it up and a brilliant kick from Fusco finds touch on halfway.
George will have the line-out throw.67 min: Chessum wins a brilliant line-out steal and then England get a penalty as Di Bartolomeo, the replacement hooker, loses his head and nails a player off the ball at the back of that line-out.67 min: It’s not clean, but England win the ball from the line-out.The clearing kick from van Poortvliet is bang on, landing out of touch beyond his 22.66 min: Italy go for the maul and they make ground.
Then they throw in a bunch of backs to help out.But England do brilliantly to not give away a penalty and manage to rumble the Italians out of touch just five metres short of their line.Fantastic defence.I wonder if Italy should have taken the shot at the lead.64 min: England down to 13 for two minutes.
Off the maul, Itoje stuck his hand in where it didn’t belong.Cynical, according to the ref just as Italy return to 15 men.They kick to the corner this time despite being in range.63 min: Another penalty on the floor for Italy.This is inside their own half so Garbisi will kick for touch
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