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Former Bristol captain Matt Salter dies aged 49
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England player ratings vs Italy | 2026 Guinness Six Nations
By Josh Raisey
England player ratings: England suffered their first-ever loss to Italy, falling 23-18 in Rome in round four of the Guinness Six Nations.
It was the latest chapter in what has been a catastrophic Six Nations for Steve Borthwick’s side after heading into the Championship with high hopes.
Plenty of changes were made following losses to Scotland and Ireland, and, as poor as the result was, there were some newcomers who grabbed their chance. Equally, there were some that did not.
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Here’s how the players rated:
15. Elliot Daly – 4
A player who faced a lot of stick for his call-up and while he started the game with some flashy quick passes and a probing kick, he had some glaring defensive shortcomings. Didn’t come close to closing down Tommaso Menoncello in Italy’s first try, and brushed aside by the same player as Italy scored their second in the final 10 minutes.
14. Tom Roebuck – 6
Back in the team after a horror show at Murrayfield and while he didn’t see a huge amount of the ball in the first half, every carry was positive. Six carries, six defenders beaten, the most metres carried and a try in the first half. However, like many England players in the second half, he didn’t have many positive interventions after the break, but was still reliable in the air.
13. Tommy Freeman – 6
Wore No.13 on his back but did a lot of damage on either wing, scoring the opening try of the match after 26 minutes on the left flank. Saw very little front-foot ball in the second half, like many players, and was pinged late on in England’s last throw of the dice.
12. Seb Atkinson – 5
Making his first appearance of the Championship, but did not appear to be in-sync with Fin Smith, with some teething problems in their partnership. Rusty in the first half with some loose passes, but he showed some endeavour which has been lacking. It was a tall order to reinvigorate a backline that has been flatlining, and he ultimately was incapable of doing so.
11. Cadan Murley – 6.5
Looked better under the high ball in the opening five minutes alone than England have looked over the past two matches. Far better. That was the platform for a promising start for the visitors and he continued to rule the airways. This was his return to an England XV since the summer tour of Argentina and the USA, and he took his chance. Chased down kicks relentlessly, putting the pressure on the Italian backfield early in the second half which resulted in points for his side. Can hold his head high in another poor display for England.
10. Fin Smith – 5
Back starting for England and maybe looked a touch jittery early on, being charged down at one point, but it didn’t go to Italian hands (George Ford would have killed for that kind of luck against Scotland). Exquisite vision and execution for Roebuck’s try at the end of the first half to give England the lead at the break. Just didn’t take control of the match when it began to unravel again for England. Wasn’t the answer to England’s problems.
9. Ben Spencer – 6.5
Started in the absence of the injured Alex Mitchell and began the match with some perfectly-weighted box kicks that allowed England to retain possession. Maintained that level throughout his 58 minutes on the field and showed that he is not simply Mitchell’s understudy, and has the superior kicking game. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it went downhill after he left the field.
1. Ellis Genge – 5
After a tit-for-tat with free-kicks in the opening two scrums of the match, Genge drew blood against Simone Ferrari in the first completed scrum of the match, winning a penalty. Fumbled the ball over the line after a strong drive early in the second half. Fired up, as ever, but there was more composure to his game this week, with any errors cut out. Maybe didn’t make the impact he would have wanted in the loose, but strong at the scrum as he has been all Championship.
2. Jamie George – 6
Back starting again for England and injected a lot of energy and tempo into the team, done by many little things like quick and decisive lineout throws. A well-functioning lineout was George’s first priority this week, and he delivered that. Stood at first receiver seemingly every other phase, either taking the ball into contact or linking with his backs.
3. Joe Heyes – 5
Followed Genge’s scrum penalty with a penalty of his own after 25 minutes. Largely on top in the scrum, save for one early in the second half. Targeted by Menoncello for Italy’s opening try, and while he was drawn facing the breakdown, it was a sumptuous line by the Italian. Racked up nine tackles, which is maybe under par by the tighthead’s standards.
4. Maro Itoje – 4
Made his presence felt with a couple of crunching tackles, and was able to influence the match far more than he has been used to this year (albeit still not at his best), pilfering the ball at the breakdown at one point early in the second half and did not relent with his pressure at the ruck. Found himself on the wrong side of the whistle suddenly when England were under the cosh around the hour mark, resulting in a yellow card (somewhat dubious) for slapping the ball out of Alessandro Fusco’s hands moments after another penalty. The game fell apart from there for his side.
5. Alex Coles – 4
Fluffed his presentation in a maul when England had a promising position early on, as their woes in opponents’ 22s looked to be rearing its head again. Produced a crisp, flat pass to Freeman to eventually convert pressure into points after 26 minutes played. England’s lineout was poor against Ireland but Coles shouldered the responsibility there in his return to the starting XV, although it was often scrappy.
6. Guy Pepper – 5
Brought some grunt in his carries, particularly popping up on the wing, and a physical presence England have been lacking.
7. Sam Underhill – 5
Thrust into the starting XV at the eleventh hour following Tom Curry’s injury in the warm-up and brought his usual defensive robustness. His pressure in defence allowed his team-mates to attack the breakdown aggressively and with a lot of success. Made a strong case to start next week, and, in truth, never really deserved to be dropped to the bench despite one shaky showing against Scotland. His rating would have been even higher had it not been for a yellow card for a high tackle midway through the second half, which turned out to be his last intervention and a crucial turning point. He topped the tackle count for England alongside Itoje with 13 tackles, so having both off at the same time was devastating.
8. Ben Earl – 6
Eager as ever, though that spilled over into an offside penalty in the opening stages. Just kept coming back in attack though, with 20 carries. Monumental defensive shift driving Italy into touch when England were down to six forwards metres from their own line on 65 minutes. Stepped up with another turnover in the second half, but, like all Championship, he couldn’t do it all himself.
Replacements
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie – N/A
Only played the final five minutes.
17. Bevan Rodd – 5
Came on with England on the ropes slightly and with Underhill in the sin-bin, but couldn’t do anything to stem the flow for England.
18. Trevor Davison – 5
Came in for the final 10 minutes, but didn’t have a scrum to sink his teeth into.
19. Ollie Chessum – 6
Sliced through the Italian defence in the dying seconds to give England hope, but otherwise didn’t have any standout moments.
20. Chandler Cunningham-South – N/A
Only given a handful of minutes at the end.
21. Henry Pollock – 5
England were staring down the battle of their first loss to Italy when he came on in the final minutes of the match, but was largely anonymous.
22. Jack van Poortvliet – 6
Joined the action with England severely on the back foot and had to manage a game at one stage with England down two players in their own 22. His clearing kick helped relieve the pressure and it wasn’t the only competitive kick he put in.
23. Marcus Smith – 4
Like Pollock, Smith was called upon to save England in the dying minutes, but was targeted under the high ball and coughed up possession.
