Six Nations 2026 news: England make nine changes to team for clash against Italy in Rome

Steve Borthwick has reacted to England‘s Six Nations slump by completing a radical overhaul of his team to face Italy, including the return of Fin Smith at fly-half as part of a whole new back line.

There are nine changes in personnel and a further three positional switches following the 42-21 rout by Ireland that removed England from title contention with two rounds remaining.

Smith will direct operations in his first start since the autumn at the expense of George Ford, who has been jettisoned from the matchday 23 entirely after under-performing against Andy Farrell’s men.

British and Irish Lions playmaker Smith marshals a back line that includes only one survivor from the Ireland mauling in Tommy Freeman, and even he has been relocated from wing to outside centre.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed rugby news you need, subscribe to The Rugby Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

WATCH THE RUGBY PAPER ROUNDUP HERE

Injuries

Seb Atkinson and Freeman form the centre partnership and there is an entirely new back three in wings Cadan Murley, Tom Roebuck and full-back Elliot Daly. Ben Spencer starts at scrum-half.

Borthwick’s hand is partly forced by injuries to Alex Mitchell and Ollie Lawrence, but by ripping up the remainder of his backline, England’s head coach has rolled the dice for Saturday’s Stadio Olimpico showdown.

None of the units behind the scrum have previously played together.

There are three changes to the pack with hooker Jamie George, second row Alex Coles and flanker Guy Pepper promoted to the starting XV, having filled the bench against Ireland.

Positional switches

The final two positional switches occur in the back row, where Tom Curry moves to openside and Ben Earl to number eight, with the hard-working Saracens forward winning his 50th cap.

Borthwick promotes Pepper to the No.6 jersey, with Henry Pollock dropping to the bench alongside Luke Cowan-Dickie, who keeps his place despite England’s line-out malfunction in round three.

Ollie Chessum also drops to the bench, where Marcus Smith is present as a fly-half and full-back cover.

England have won all 32 previous meetings with Italy, but Gonzalo Quesada’s side arrive with the strongest Azzurri team since they joined the Six Nations in 2000.

England head coach Steve Borthwick has given Fin Smith the fly-half duties against Ireland
(Andrew Matthews/PA)

Challenge

Back-to-back heavy defeats by Scotland and Ireland have heaped pressure on Borthwick, with a trip to Paris to face Grand Slam-chasing France concluding another disappointing Six Nations.

“We’re expecting a big test in Rome and it’s one the players are really looking forward to,” Borthwick said.

“We know the challenge Italy will bring at the Stadio Olimpico and we’ve selected a team we believe will deliver the level of performance we’re striving for.”

PA graphic

The England team to face Italy

England: Daly; Roebuck, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley; F Smith, Spencer; Genge (vc), George (vc), Heyes, Itoje (c), Coles, Pepper, Curry, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Chessum, Underhill, Pollock, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

READ MORE: Six Nations 2026 preview: Italy know they can make history against England