Summary

  • Fin Smith starts at fly-half as Steve Borthwick shakes up his England backline to face Italy in Rome - full squad details here

  • Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson comes in at 12 for his third cap and George Ford and Fraser Dingwall are left out of the matchday squad entirely

  • Henry Arundell also loses his place with Harlequins' Cadan Murley and Sale's Tom Roebuck preferred on the wing

  • A defeat by Italy would send England away to runaway leaders France on the final round needing a major upset to avert a single-win Six Nations campaign

  • Our BBC Sport rugby union correspondent Chris Jones is answering your questions - get in touch

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  1. Just a blip?published at 14:38 GMT 3 March

    Italy v England (Sat,16:40 GMT)

    Danny Care
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcasy

    I am confident that England will go to Italy and win.

    I hope we are then sitting here next week discussing how Scotland and Ireland were just a blip.

    If they don’t, then the conversation gets a little sticky.

    Italy will have a spring in their step and will absolutely believe they can win.

  2. 'You need that mentality to adapt'published at 14:35 GMT 3 March

    Italy v England (Sat,16:40 GMT)

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Rugby Union Weekly

    Media caption,

    'Emotional' Dawson criticises England's mentality

    You need that mentality to adapt from minute one. England are yet to find ways out of it going badly.

  3. The hot seat awaitspublished at 14:30 GMT 3 March

    Italy v England (Sat,16:40 GMT)

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport at Pennyhill Park

    Press roomImage source, BBC Sport

    It is a sparkling day at Pennyhill Park, England's stately home base, where head coach Steve Borthwick will come and explain the thinking behind his selection.

    England are set to hit the road for the remainder of the tournament, travelling direct from Rome to Paris, with a stop-off for a continental training camp en route.

  4. How things standpublished at 14:25 GMT 3 March

    Italy v England (Sat,16:40 GMT)

    Six Nations
  5. Ruthless Ireland hit record away winpublished at 14:20 GMT 3 March

    Italy v England (Sat,16:40 GMT)

    England head to Rome after back-to-back heavy defeats by Scotland and Ireland.

    Andy Farrell's Ireland delivered a record 42-21 away win over England at Allianz Stadium.

    Last time out could not have gone worse, the pressure is on for a result.

    Media caption,

    Ireland reignite title bid with record away win over England

  6. Marcus Smith or Daly set to replace Stewardpublished at 14:15 GMT 3 March

    Italy v England (Sat,16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    George Furbank was expected to come in at full-back, but instead Marcus Smith and Elliot Daly are in the running to supplant Freddie Steward who was replaced during the first half as England fell behind en route to an eventual 42-21 defeat by Ireland last time out.

    With Alex Mitchell injured, Ben Spencer is understood to be the starting scrum-half.

  7. Fin Smith set to start as Borthwick shakes up backlinepublished at 14:13 GMT 3 March

    Italy v England (Sat,16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Head coach Steve Borthwick is set to make sweeping changes to his backline as he attempts to revive England's Six Nations campaign against Italy in Rome.

    Northampton's Fin Smith is in line to come in at fly-half in place of George Ford, while Gloucester's Seb Atkinson is set for a start at 12.

    With outside centre Ollie Lawrence ruled out with a knee problem, Tommy Freeman is likely to move in from the wing and resume his midfield role, with Tom Roebuck returning to the starting line-up and Cadan Murley tipped for a start in place of Henry Arundell.

    Fin SmithImage source, Getty Images
  8. England team selectionpublished at 14:10 GMT 3 March

    Italy v England (Sat,16:40 GMT)

    England head coach Steve Borthwick enjoys a Tuesday team announcement.

    Will heavy back-to-back defeats lead to changes for Saturday's Six Nations game against Italy?

    Stay tuned to find out.

    Steve BorthwickImage source, Getty Images