Steve Borthwick conducts mass overhaul with 6 England players axed entirely

Italy are dandering out to a home fixture against a big hitter as favourites. Deservedly on both teams recent form. Let's see how they wear it.

If they start fast, hit hard and start knocking England back early doors, they keep the crowd in it. 16th man may just be the difference.

I was at the 2013 game and it was clear by 50 mins, that crowd knew they were getting it done.

Italy have plenty of youth but also plenty of them on their 3rd or 4th campaign. I think plenty is falling in their favour

Maro is running on fumes. Hard to drop a captain but he's miles off it. Miles.

Not a shock with his recent personal trauma on the back of a punishing summer schedule, but this doesn't look like a decisive selection by Borthwick.

It looks knee jerk to shut a few folks up. His back row selections - assuming Italy can and will go with form - are borderline insulting to the Italians.

I think Italy will eat and shite them at the breakdown which is where they can win the game.

If England's kicking game doesn't gel early, it could follow the trend of the last couple of games.

Italy outmuscled Scotland, Ireland and held their own against France. Lots of luck, lads

Dingwall was clearly brought in to play with Smith, shows a lack of conviction that Borthwick never managed to get them on the pitch together. Dingwall isn't a test match player in my eyes though, he's had quite a few caps and had very few impactful moments. Atkinson is a much better player, I'm still not sure he's England's answer at 12 but he's a lot more talented than Dingwall.

I don't get how anyone can look at England's performances and think Ben Spencer is part of the solution…

So Borthers’ answer is to bring in a load of new combinations in the backs, using guys with little or no international game time in the last few months ? That stinks of knee jerk. Still it will give the suits an excuse to not sack at least El Abd and Wiggy if not all (except Sinfield)

The last two games were lost up front but the failure of the backs to execute with the considerable possession was a concern.

I have sympathy for the injuries to Mitchell & Lawrence but having finally selected Fin Smith, this is hardly the backline anyone would expect to play to his strengths.

What are the fans seeing that the England selection is blind to at the moment? If you have a ball in hand execution issue in the backs, why not play;

Spencer, Smith, Daly, Dingwall, Slade, Freeman, Furbank (or Hendy). For a short turnaround, this would be your best attacking players (Saints) with two experienced players that can step in at late notice (Slade & Daly - which is why they are in the squad).

It just feels more muddled thinking from Borthers.

I don’t really understand the reason for this selection (other than the last 2 games have been so bad).

The back 3 would have been better as Roebuck (11), Freeman (14) & Daly (15).

I then think Fin Smith (10), Dingwall (12) & Slade (13) would have made more sense than what we have ended with.

You basically have 2 inexperienced centres, who aren’t used to playing with the 10 instead of 2 experienced centres, with 10/12 used to playing with each other each week.

I honestly don’t get some of the logic being applied in these decisions.

It sort of flies in the face of everything, these lot haven’t been trusted to date, so we drop the entire back line and put them all in.

It looks a little desperate and comes back to Borthwick’s selection process being poor, which is part of the problem.

Agree. It's forecast as dry with sunny intervals and a slight breeze. He seems to be trying to refine his kicking game and banking on that.

The breakdown has been a super strength for Italy and only their handling stopped them squeezing France last time out.

Assuming that Italy can go with Cannone, Zuliani & Lamaro, they’ll have the consistency of having played the last 3 games in addition to their abilities.

Advantage firmly with Italy in the back row at least

I agree with you mostly. Ironically, I think the 5x7 approach probably makes more sense against Italy, certainly, than against France with their large pack.

Italy are very quick to the breakdowns and so I suspect the 5x7 helps england protect their ball. The Italians are excellent at disrupting the rucks.

My concern with the English backline changes is whether this combination of backs is defensively ready - the Italian attack is very good imho. Particularly in the midfield.

But trying something different was well overdue and I’m keen to see how Finn Smith responds to what has become a, strangely, high pressure match.

I feel like Italy wins this one. By 1 point. But if I put money on it England will certainly win it.

So conflicted.