England vs Italy Six Nations predictions, betting tips and odds: Expect an entertaining encounter at Twickenham

Where to watch England vs Italy

You can watch England vs Italy on ITV1 at 3pm on Sunday, March 9

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England vs Italy predictions

England and Italy first met in the Six Nations in 2000, when England ran out 59-12 winners, and the following year at Twickenham the scoreline was even more emphatic as the hosts claimed a record 80-23 success.

It has been one-way traffic since then and England are the only team Italy have never beaten. But the Azzurri have learned to keep it closer, covering the handicap in eight of the last 12 meetings, while last year in Rome they outscored England by three tries to one in a 27-24 defeat.

Italy have grown as team in the quarter of a century they have taken part in the Six Nations. It used to be about damage limitation every time they ran out, but now they have shown they can hold their own and have evolved into a sharp attacking unit.

They are 21-point underdogs for Sunday's trip to Twickenham and some interesting line-up tweaks from both coaches suggest we could be in for an entertaining contest.

England have won their last two games by one point but haven't convinced in attack, managing just one try to Scotland's three in their most recent game.

Having made a big switch in round two by moving Marcus Smith to full-back and starting Fin Smith at fly-half, England coach Steve Borthwick has pulled another surprise by benching Marcus Smith against Italy with Elliot Daly starting at 15.

Centre Henry Slade has also been dropped for Fraser Dingwall, making for an all-Northampton axis at nine, ten and 12. That should make for more fluency in attack while Daly at full-back can move around the field varying the point of attack.

Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has also made a switch to his backline, moving Ange Capuozzo to full-back so Monty Ioane can return on the wing, while Benetton's Matt Gallagher comes in on the other wing.

Ioane is a big physical presence and destructive force who scored against England last year in Rome, and there are signs that Italy may well have taken note of the success Scotland had running at the England defence and will look to get on the front foot themselves.

The Italy players may well feel as if they are in Rome again as a sunny spring afternoon with temperatures reaching 18C is forecast - perfect conditions for expansive running rugby.

England are under pressure to deliver some big scores but Italy can play their part too in what could be a roller-coaster afternoon.

England vs Italy team line-ups

England: 15 Elliot Daly; 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Ollie Sleightholme; 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Tom Willis
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith 

Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo; 14 Monty Ioane, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Matt Gallagher; 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza, 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Michele Lamaro, 8 Ross Vintcent
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Lorenzo Cannone, 22 Martin Page-Relo, 23 Tommaso Allan 

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