Key events
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ITALY BEAT ENGLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME! Italy 23-18 England
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TRY! Italy 23-18 England (Marin, 73)
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Yellow card! England (Itoje, 65)
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Penalty! Italy 16-18 England (P Garbisi, 61)
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Penalty! Italy 13-18 England (P Garbisi, 58)
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Yellow card! England (Underhill, 57)
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Penalty! Italy 10-18 England (F Smith, 54)
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Yellow card! Italy (Nicotera, 53)
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Penalty! Italy 10-15 England (F Smith, 45)
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Second half!
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Half-time: Italy 10-12 England
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TRY! Italy 10-12 England (Roebuck, 40+1)
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TRY! Italy 10-5 England (Menoncello, 35)
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TRY! Italy 3-5 England (Freeman, 26)
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Penalty! Italy 3-0 England (P Garbisi, 21)
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Kick-off!
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Update on England’s team
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Tom Curry limps off before kick-off!
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England team
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Italy team
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Preamble
Now let’s hear from Maro Itoje, who must want to be anywhere else right now:
It’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:
Obviously 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:
It’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.
ITALY BEAT ENGLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME! Italy 23-18 England
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.
TRY! Italy 23-18 England (Marin, 73)
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.
Yellow card! England (Itoje, 65)
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. It’s not a great touch-finder and doesn’t go very far. Still, they’ll have the line-out in England’s half. Momentum is a hell of a thing, eh?
Meanwhile, Underhill’s yellow will remain. Agree with that.
Penalty! Italy 16-18 England (P Garbisi, 61)
In off the post! In a flash it’s a two point game. Garbisi, from the right tram, curled a left-footer off the far stick.
59 min: A bit of kick tennis ends with Fusco, on for A Garbisi at 9, hoofs a touchfinder over halfway. Italy steal the England line-out and attack down the right. Pani makes good ground, They’re looking good and then win the penalty on the floor inside England’s 22. That came off a kick ahead that turned the England defence and forced the error on the floor. Credit to Lynagh who held his shape and waited til the right moment to get over the ball. P Garbisi will take aim from out wide.
Penalty! Italy 13-18 England (P Garbisi, 58)
Garbisi doesn’t drill this but he gets it over. Bit against the run of play but they’ll be happy to be within five again.
Yellow card! England (Underhill, 57)
I guess. I mean he has made contact with the Italian ball carrier’s head. Not intentional, not dirty, but it is the right call. That gives Italy a shot at three points from about 40 metres just about in front.
57 min: They’re looking at a replay. Underhill might be trouble for a shoulder on head hit. Just a question of where the first contact was made.
57 min: Zuliani spills a horrible pass inside his own half. Hard to understand what’s happened to Italy. Credit must go to England, mind. They’ve been outstanding this half.
56 min: Ioane wins a high ball from Murley. That’s a rare win in the air for Italy. Fischetti is nailed by Underhill and Italy’s momentum is halted despite stacking up eight phases. They’re closer to halfway than the try line and Underhill snatches a turnover on the floor. Italy are falling apart as England are growing.
Penalty! Italy 10-18 England (F Smith, 54)
It was a gimme, but it just squeezed inside the left pole. No matter. Smith adds the extras and England are in firm control of this.
Yellow card! Italy (Nicotera, 53)
That was cynical. The Italian hooker slowed the ball down on the floor just as England were gathering momentum. England have been excellent this half and should add three more to their tally as this is within range.
51 min: Itoje makes another steal! A huge hit from Underhill halts Italy’s momentum, hammering Cannone. The England skipper stoops and steals and wins a penalty. England now have. the line-out back in Italy’s patch. They’ve got quick ball off the top with Atkinson and Murley making ground.
51 min: Italy show promise with ball in hand but there’s something lacking. A good pass finds Lynagh on the left wing and he makes some ground but once the phases start stacking up they look less threatening. The ball goes from the left wing to the right before the move fizzles out. There’s an England intercept, but we’ll have an Italian line-out from about the same spot as the previous one.
49 min: Now Italy win the scrum penalty. Genge penalised. If you are a fan of scrums this has been a great game for you. Loads of meaty battles in the set piece. Garbisi hoofs this penalty short of England’s 22. Can they do anything with first phase strike play?
48 min: Roebuck gets up to cause problems in the air from a contestable kick. Ioane spills under pressure. He’s upset, but that ball did go forward. Scrum to England inside Italy’s territory. Momentum all with the visitors.
47 min: Two brilliant plays from England. First Earl ran back to gather a tricky chip from Italy inside his own 22. Then Itoje stole the ball after Spencer’s clearing kick landed in a contestable area. England have started this half with great sharpness. Now they have the line-out inside their half.
Penalty! Italy 10-15 England (F Smith, 45)
England stretch their lead. After that sloppiness in the backfield, I reckon Italy won’t mind England leaving their 22 with only three points. Good start to the second half from the men in white.
44 min: England win the scrum penalty off Italy’s ball five out! That’s three scrum penalties for the English. Smith points to the sticks. Slight angle to the left of the poles as he’ll see them.
41 min: England win another high kick. They launch another one that causes major problems for Pani in the backfield who makes a proper mess of things. He holds onto the ball and gives away a penalty just metres from his own line. Lucky not to be carded. England tap and go. They spill the ball!! Let off for Italy. Earl thinks he’s dotted down. Nothin’ doin’. Not e en a review.
Phew, that was very lucky for Italy. Could have conceded a try. Could have conceded a yellow card.
They have to scrum five out from their own line.
Second half!
England get things going. Can they maintain their lead and continue their 32-game winning run against the Italians?
Italy have not scored a second half try this tournament so far.
I reckon they’ll need at least one.
The players are getting ready to head back out.
I’m still considering that Roebuck try. Italy really shot themselves in the foot there trying to play silly games with the clock in the read. If they were more pragmatic and kept the ball tight for 30 seconds, they’d be starting this half with a 10-5 lead.
Half-time: Italy 10-12 England
Not sure what to make of that. It wasn’t a classic. But I think the score is a fair reflection of the match. England have been better – much better – than previous weeks. Better kicks, better chases, better at the point of contact. Ben Earl has been magnificent. Italy have been stodgy but for one outstanding line break from Menoncello. Still in the balance. Both teams with more to offer.
TRY! Italy 10-12 England (Roebuck, 40+1)
What an end to the half! Italy will be kicking themselves. They had the scrum and opted to run it out after winning the ball at the back. But Zuiliani was turned over and England came roaring back down the right with Roebuck. England kept hammering the line and inched upfield. With bodies knackered and clustered won the left, Smith looked up and saw Roebuck by himself on the right. The kick was brilliant, the catch, gather and step was better. And with the conversion England take the lead.
40 min: Itoje is lifted high and pinches a line-out on halfway. Pepper runs it back into traffic. Spencer lifts a high kick but Underhill spilled it. Italy will have the scrum feed. If they can avoid giving away a penalty they’ll close out the half with a five point lead.
38 min: England lose their feet after building nicely and give away a penalty. In that play Earl – for the millionth time this season – made ground after contact. Brex stood up well on defence. So did Ferrari and Garbisi who combined to win the penalty.
37 min: England with a chance to strike back as they force Italy to throw from inside their own 22. But they lose their heads and give away a soft free kick fro drifting too close to the Italian line. P Garbisi kicks down town.
TRY! Italy 10-5 England (Menoncello, 35)
England’s midfield cut in half! Outstanding line from my pick as the best midfielder in the world right now. Italy kept hammering the line off a line-out and made some ground down the left win with Ioane and then Lynagh. They recycled and a short pass back against the grain found the imperious Menoncello who put on the afterburners and sprinted away from the chasing England players from about 30 metres out. Great finish and the extras off the tee open up a five point lead.
32 min: Underhill’s wonky ears are bleeding, so that gives us a chance to read some views from some of you:
“What a difference between this game and Sco v Fra. Like the change between top flight and second league in any sport”, says Philip H.
Stephen Vallely concurs: “OMG Daniel. This is dire beyond belief. England seem to have the knack of dragging every team down to their level of boring!
30 min: A scrappy line-out and messy ball gives P Garbisi no platform to kick. As a result, the clearance lands right on Roebuck who runs it back and makes good ground. England hit the ruck at speed and suddenly bodies are free down the left. Atkinson kicks instead of keep it through the hands and it goes out. Italy win the line-out but England are back on the ball after another nothing hoof from the home team.
28 min: Quesada is waving his arms about in the coach’s box. Not sure what he’s upset about but his team needs to pull their socks up. They’re back in their own half with a line-out feed. This score reflects the nature of the game, I’d say.
TRY! Italy 3-5 England (Freeman, 26)
Quality from England! It started off the line-out from the scrum penalty. It went over the top and Earl was charging upfield. From there they had all the momentum and when Smith changed direction to move it from right to left, they had Freeman hovering down the left tram all on his own. The final pass was delivered by big Coles, who couldn’t have flung that any better.
Smith misses the extras.
25 min: Another scrum penalty for England! That was against the feed. A few things aren’t working, but Genge and Hayes are at least doing their bit.