England vs Italy Preview & Prediction | 2025 Six Nations Championship | Round 4
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Back-to-back victories by the smallest of margins mean that England still harbour hopes of Six Nations glory, and here they host an Italy side who were on the receiving end of a bruising defeat to France in round 3.
Start date/time: Sunday 9th March, 2025: UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / US – Peacock
England Form: Still in the hunt
It’s fair to say that England have rode their luck at times in this year’s Six Nations Championship, but their title hopes remain alive after beating Scotland 16-15 two weeks ago – the second game in succession that they have won by a single point.
Finn Russell’s last-minute conversion miss means that England can still finish top, but they need other results to go their way both this weekend and in the final round of games if that is to be the case.
Last Five: LWLWW
Italy Form: Point to prove
Despite a heavy 49-point defeat to a rampant France in the third round of games, Italy will have taken some positives from that match as they competed well for large portions and even led 17-10 at one point.
Although the Azzurri have never beaten England in the Six Nations, they did push Steve Borthwick’s side close in the corresponding fixture last year, losing 27-24 in Rome.
Last Five: WLLWL
England Team News: Three changes to the starting XV
Squad: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Tom Willis
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith
Italy Team News: Several changes as Tommaso Allan relegated to the bench
Squad: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Monty Ioane, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza, 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Michele Lamaro, 8 Ross Vintcent
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Lorenzo Cannone, 22 Martin Page-Relo, 23 Tommaso Allan
England vs Italy Prediction
England know they need to win here to maintain their title hopes. They are strong favourites to do just that, but they are likely to face an Italian side with a point to prove after shipping 73 points to France in round 3.
The hosts will go all out for a bonus-point victory in Twickenham, and although Italy are likely to sure things up at the back, the Red Roses should have too much power for the Azzurri backline.
With that in mind, Borthwick’s side could be worth backing to overcome a considerable handicap.
England vs Italy Tip: England to win with -20.5 handicap
