England's Six Nations campaign took a turn for the worse as they suffered a shock 23-18 defeat to Italy in Rome. The loss marks a disappointing end to a tournament that started with high hopes for Steve Borthwick's side. The team made several changes after previous losses to Scotland and Ireland, but the result was still a disappointment.
The player ratings reveal a mixed bag of performances. Elliot Daly, who faced criticism for his selection, started with some flair but struggled defensively, particularly against Tommaso Menoncello. Tom Roebuck, back in the team, had a positive first half with six carries and a try, but faded in the second half. Tommy Freeman, playing on the wing, scored the opening try but saw less ball in the second half.
Seb Atkinson, making his first appearance, struggled to gel with Fin Smith, and his partnership lacked synergy. Cadan Murley, returning to the team, had a strong performance, ruling the airways and chasing down kicks. Fin Smith, however, didn't take control of the match when it mattered, and his vision and execution didn't match up to expectations.
Ben Spencer, starting in place of Alex Mitchell, had a solid performance with well-weighted box kicks. Ellis Genge, a strong presence at the scrum, won a penalty early on but fumbled the ball over the line. Jamie George, back in the starting lineup, injected energy and tempo, focusing on a well-functioning lineout.
Maro Itoje, known for his defensive prowess, had a solid performance with crunching tackles and pressure at the breakdown. However, he was on the wrong side of the whistle and received a yellow card for a dubious slapping of the ball. Alex Coles, returning to the starting XV, had a mixed performance, with a crisp pass leading to a try but also a poor lineout.
Guy Pepper brought physicality and Sam Underhill, thrust into the starting lineup, had a strong defensive showing. Ben Earl, eager and energetic, kept coming back in attack but committed an offside penalty. Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Henry Pollock, and Jack van Poortvliet all had limited impact as replacements.
The defeat to Italy raises questions about England's performance and strategy. The team's struggles in the Six Nations highlight the challenges they face in maintaining consistency and performance across the tournament. As the campaign progresses, Borthwick will need to make strategic decisions to address these issues and improve England's chances of success.
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