Six Nations 2026: England's away-day blues - could they finally lose to Italy?

The Six Nations resumes a critical chapter as England travel to Rome after successive defeats by Scotland and Ireland, a run that has left title hopes in tatters and raised the prospect that their long unbeaten record in Italy could finally be tested. The match in the Eternal City is framed as must-win not just to salvage pride but to avoid deeper historical embarrassment in the tournament.

Six Nations test in Rome: form, records and the stakes

England arrive on the back of chastening performances: mauled at Murrayfield and troubled at home, with their attack described as failing to click in recent rounds. Those results feed into a wider pattern of away-day frailties that now loom large.

• England’s recent away run includes four defeats in five games, a joint-highest tally over a five-match span in the Six Nations era.
• In the five championships since England last won the title, they have won just four of 13 fixtures on the road and have lost all eight fixtures played in Edinburgh, Dublin and France across that period.
• Over the same window, rival nations have enjoyed more success away from home: France and Ireland have combined for 11 away wins, while Scotland have claimed six.

Historically, England have a perfect record in Rome and have never lost to Italy. Yet Italy have already beaten Scotland at home in this championship and present a more formidable challenge than in past years. The Azzurri’s improved stamina, style and defensive resilience have transformed what might once have been a routine fixture into one laced with jeopardy. If England were to be beaten in Rome, they would travel to Paris facing the possibility of four defeats in the same championship — an outcome that would be only the third such occurrence since the competition expanded and the first since 1976.

Borthwick's overhaul and England's response

Faced with back-to-back losses, the head coach has reshaped the squad dramatically: nine personnel changes combined with three positional switches, the most extensive retooling by an England team in the Six Nations era. The overhaul is especially focused on the backline, where new and untested combinations will be asked to deliver immediately.

The coaching team has placed a clear emphasis on physical intensity and emotional response in training. The captain has set the tone for a rallying challenge, urging players to raise intensity, accuracy and confrontation to arrest the slide. The moves are deliberately bold but not without risk: fresh partnerships and positional shifts increase uncertainty in a match England must win to stabilise a floundering campaign.

What to watch in Rome and what happens next

Key dynamics to monitor include England’s start to the match — slow openings have been costly in recent rounds — the cohesion of the revamped backline and whether the physical intensity preached in preparation translates on the field. Italy will target England’s vulnerabilities and will back themselves to turn home advantage into historic reward.

With the final round on the horizon and a looming trip to Paris, the result in Rome carries immediate tournament consequences as well as longer-term questions about selection, strategy and squad morale. Recent changes indicate a clear, urgent attempt at course correction; details may evolve as the match unfolds and the championship progresses.

Note: match situations and selections are subject to change.