Italy Stun England in Six Nations: Historic Win & England’s Losing Streak
ROME – In a stunning upset that reverberates through the Six Nations Championship, Italy defeated England , by a score of 18-16. The historic victory marks Italy’s first-ever win against England in the competition and injects new life into their campaign.
The match, played in Rome, was a tense affair, characterized by a series of lead changes and disciplinary issues. England, coming off a dominant run that included a victory over New Zealand in November, had appeared to be a formidable force. Though, they have now lost their last three matches, raising questions about their form and consistency.
Italy initially took the lead through a penalty kick by Tommaso Garbisi in the 21st minute, capitalizing on an offside penalty conceded by England. England responded with a strive from Alex Coles, set up after winning two penalties at the scrum, but Italy quickly regained the advantage. A brilliant run from Marco Menoncello saw him break through the English defense for a converted try, putting the hosts ahead.
The first half concluded with another try, this time for England’s Roebuck, following a cross-kick from Finn Smith. Smith’s subsequent conversion gave England a narrow 12-10 lead at the break. The game continued to be a closely contested battle after the restart.
England extended their lead with two penalties from Smith, while Italy suffered a setback with Nicotera being sent to the sin bin for a cynical infringement. However, the momentum shifted again when England flanker Underhill received a yellow card for a high shot, a decision that survived a bunker review. Garbisi capitalized on the opportunity, kicking a penalty to reduce the deficit.
The disciplinary issues continued to plague England, with Itoje also receiving a yellow card for a penalty infringement. With Italy enjoying a two-man advantage, Garbisi opted for a kick to the corner, but England managed to disrupt the Italian catch-and-drive, preventing a try.
Before Itoje could return to the field, Italy sealed the historic victory. A brilliant break down the left wing by Menoncello created an opportunity for Marin, who finished the move with a try, sending the home crowd into raptures.
The match was described as one for the purists, following a high-scoring encounter between Scotland and France earlier in the day. However, the tension and drama in Rome were palpable throughout the 80 minutes.
The result has significant implications for the Six Nations standings. If Italy were to defeat Wales in Cardiff next weekend, it would be the first time they have won three matches in a single Six Nations tournament. This would also position them for a potential third-place finish, their best-ever final position in the competition.
The officiating team also experienced a late change, with Nic Berry unable to travel from Australia due to the volatile situation in the Middle East. Pierre Brousset (France) stepped in as AR1, and Sam Grove-White (Scotland) replaced Berry as AR2. The match was refereed by Luc Ramos, making his Six Nations debut. Ramos previously officiated a match between Wales and South Africa last autumn, where he sent off Eben Etzebeth for an eye gouge.
Ramos’s previous on-field clash with a captain also came to light, having frustrated France forward Gregory Alldritt during a controversial incident involving England centre Manu Tuilagi in 2024. The referee’s debut in the Six Nations was certainly a memorable one, overseeing a match filled with intensity and controversy.
For Italy, this victory represents a remarkable turnaround. In 2019, Italian rugby was facing an existential crisis, with low attendance figures at their home matches. This win signals a resurgence and offers a beacon of hope for the future of the sport in the country.
England, will demand to address their disciplinary issues and rediscover their form if they are to salvage their Six Nations campaign. The loss to Italy is a significant setback and raises questions about their ability to compete for the championship title.