England’s Six Nations campaign continues today with a home clash against Italy at Twickenham.
Steve Borthwick will be hoping for his first win as head coach following the narrow 23-29 defeat to Scotland in the Calcutta Cup last weekend.
England will start this afternoon’s clash as heavy favourites having never lost to the Azzurri, whilst the aggregate score between the two sides in the last 16 Twickenham encounters reads 720 points to 190 in England’s favour.
However, the Italians are a much improved outfit under the stewardship of Kieran Crowley and almost caused a shock against France in Rome last weekend.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of England’s latest Italian job.
What time does England vs Italy kick-off?
England vs Italy will kick-off today (Sunday, February 12) at 3pm.
What TV channel is England vs Italy on?
The match will be shown live on ITV 1, with coverage beginning at 2.15pm.
The game will also be available to live stream on ITVX.
What is the England team news?
England’s most capped player Ben Youngs has been dropped for today’s game having been left out of the 29-man training squad earlier in the week.
The 33 year-old struggled as a substitute against Scotland and has been replaced in the group by Northampton’s Alex Mitchell.
England team vs Italy: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Max Malins, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Ollie Chessum, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 7 Jack Willis, 8 Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Henry Arundell
What happened in last year’s fixture?
England emerged victorious 12 months ago courtesy of a dominant 33-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
The away side scored five tries and had a further two chalked off, with Marcus Smith stamping his authority on England’s attacking game with a man-of-the-match performance.
MORE : Lewis Ludlam: There’s no panic, despite England’s Six Nations loss to Scotland
MORE : Loss to Scotland not a total failure but Steve Borthwick’s England need to get up to speed
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