England stunned as Italy secure historic victory

Italy stunned England 23-18 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in the penultimate round of the Six Nations, securing a first-ever championship victory over the visitors. The result marked a landmark moment for Italian rugby, while England face serious questions as they prepare for the final round of the tournament.

After leading 12-10 at the break, and a promising start to the second half, England failed to stay disciplined and gave Italy an opportunity to fight their way back into the contest. A key turning point came when England’s ill-discipline reduced them to 13 men for part of the second half, allowing Italy to take full advantage and strike the decisive blow.

It was Menoncello magic that proved pivotal in deciding the match

Italy’s confidence and composure allowed them to finish strongly, with standout performances from players like Monty Ioane and the Cannone brothers, but it was Menoncello magic that proved pivotal in deciding the match and earned Tommaso Menoncello Player of the Match. The elusive Italian centre proved difficult for the English side to shut down, with the 23-year-old slicing through the defence before diving over from 45 metres out.

Italy’s attacking threat persisted in the second half, with impressive carries from Ioane and Menoncello setting up Leonardo Marin to finish a remarkable counterattack try that gave the Azzurri the lead late in the game. England crossed the line twice themselves, with Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck capitalising on their opportunities in the first half. However, England’s inability to penetrate Italy’s determined defence in the second half ultimately proved decisive.

Italy continue to shed their reputation as the Six Nations’ perennial underdogs

The result carried significance far beyond the scoreline. It was 33^rd time lucky for Italy, who had lost all previous 32 meetings with England before breaking the curse in Rome, underlining the incredible progress made by the Azzurri in recent years. Italy continue to shed their reputation as the Six Nations’ perennial underdogs, having faced repeated calls for promotion and relegation during the 36-match losing streak that only ended in 2022. With young talent continuing to gain experience and fresh names entering the fold, this victory felt like a clear sign of a side growing in confidence, belief, and maturity. New Zealand now remain the only Tier 1 nation Italy have yet to defeat — a record that the Azzurri will no doubt be eager to change. There is still work to be done, but Italy’s future looks increasingly bright.

For England, however, the defeat only deepens growing concerns around Steve Borthwick’s side. Having shown promise in spells, including an 11-match win streak leading into the 2026 tournament, England have managed just one victory — against a struggling Welsh side — and have left many supporters disappointed with their overall performance. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia on the horizon, questions remain over whether this England side is developing quickly enough to compete with the world’s elite.

With this historic win behind them, Italy will look to build on their momentum as they head into Super Saturday and beyond, while England must regroup and address their issues quickly if they hope to get their World Cup preparations back on track.