Summary

Have your say on the Six Nations

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:19 GMT

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    England kick. Opposition collect. Opposition score. England kick. Opposition collect. Opposition score. Pigeons learn quicker than the England players.

    Stevo, Cheltenham

  2. 'Our discipline that cost us'published at 19:17 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    England Rugby

    England head coach Steve Borthwick, speaking to BBC Sport: "Credit to Italy and the way they played. They are a top-quality opposition, and you can see that in each and every one of their performances.

    "We are bitterly disappointed. I thought at 60 minutes we had the game under control, but going down to 13 men hurt us badly. They took their one chance very well and were able to get over the line.”

    On whether going down to 13 men affected his use of the bench: "From a leadership perspective off the field, with Sam Underhill and Maro off the pitch, we were limited in the changes we were able to make.

    "Italy's aerial game hurt us and created opportunities for them. I think when we get the balance right, this team plays a very good game, but we haven't got that balance where it needs to be.

    "As we look at this over the last 12 months, we have been scoring a lot of tries, but right now we're not able to apply as much scoreboard pressure as we want because we are not getting over the line. There are a couple of areas, especially in the breakdown, where we are turning over the ball too much.

    "Clearly, this is a really challenging and tough time. We talk about intensity all week, and I thought their intensity was very good today, but it was our discipline that cost us. I have seen the players, and they are really feeling this."

  3. 'The players have to take accountability'published at 19:13 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I can't get my head around what has happened. I find it difficult because I am a frustrated former player and fan, echoing the words of many: "What on earth was I watching, from a side with hundreds of caps and loads of experience?"

    The players have to take accountability, and that is a massive issue for me with this England squad. That's why I highlighted Maro Itoje screaming at Fin Smith to kick and take the points - because this England side feels very fluffy and friendly.

    Sometimes you have to stare your team-mates in the face and have hard words with them. You're not bullying or badmouthing them - it's a harsh word to sharpen the mind amid all the pressure. We all need a kick up the backside.

    I just don't feel like the England side, for many years, has been able to look each other in the eye and say something they might not want to hear.

  4. Postpublished at 19:10 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Before the Six Nations started, England head coach Steve Borthwick talked about the game against France in Paris on 14 March being a possible title decider.

    "We want to be in a position in that game to get what we all want to achieve. We want English fans flooding across the channel to get there and watch that game," he said.

    Now it is about avoiding a Wooden Spoon.

    Crazy!

  5. 'Another uninspired and insipid performance'published at 19:08 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport at Stadio Olimpico

    For head coach Steve Borthwick another uninspired and insipid performance, 18 months out from the Rugby World Cup, raises the most awkward and far-reaching questions.

    England will go to their final-day meeting with France next week, earmarked as a possible Grand Slam decider at the start of the tournament, as minor characters attempting to somehow avoid their first single-win campaign in Six Nations history.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:06 GMT

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    It is not the quality of the players, but the weak tactics applied by Borthwick. England will not improve until he is replaced as coach.

    Ewart Alexander

    Thumbs up if you agree. Thumbs down if you don't.

  7. 'Discipline is a significant factor'published at 19:03 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    England Rugby

    England head coach Steve Borthwick, speaking to ITV: "Credit to Italy, who have come a long way.

    "We are gutted. For 60 minutes, we are in control and those two sin-bins hurt us.

    "Discipline is a significant factor, it is something we have to improve."

  8. 'It's only going to get worse'published at 19:01 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Itoje is right - as players, and especially as captain, they have to own it. He will be furious with himself for that penalty and yellow card. He won't sleep well tonight, and unfortunately, it's only going to get worse. The media will be on him, the fans will be on him and the team, because it is absolutely unacceptable.

  9. 'As captain I take responsibility'published at 18:59 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    England Rugby

    England captain Maro Itoje, speaking on BBC 5 Live: "It is disappointing. I think it is on us as players - we have to own the performance. This team has put together good performances over the past year, but recently we haven’t. We have to face the facts and get back to work.

    On where things are going wrong: "We have to figure it out. If we knew, we wouldn’t be in this position. We have to stick together. Teams go through tough periods, and we are going through a tough period now, so we have to stick together.

    "We have to own the result, and it is a results business. As captain, I take responsibility for that."

    Maro ItojeImage source, Getty Images
  10. How things standpublished at 18:56 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    If England do suffer a heavy defeat against France and Wales win big against Italy, Steve Borthwick's side could pick up the Wooden Spoon.

    Unlikely, but it is possible.

    This Flourish post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:53 GMT

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    I am convinced Borthwick is the problem with England. His success came from kick and compete, but the opposition has worked us out, and we have no plan B. It is woeful to watch and totally unacceptable. Players out of position after the mauling against Scotland shows a team led by someone devoid of ideas.

    Martyn Cawse

  12. 'We have to face the reality'published at 18:51 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    England Rugby

    England captain Maro Itoje, speaking on ITV: "It was disappointing, but it is on us as players. Over the past year, this team has put together some great performances.

    "We have to face reality and deliver some good performances.

    "We need to stick together and figure it out.

    "It's a results business, and we have to take responsibility for that."

  13. 'Questions need to be asked about England's strategy'published at 18:49 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    There is no way of getting out of it. Questions need to be asked about England's strategy and methodology - about how they believe the game should be played at this level - because the way England are playing, they are not going to win international matches.

  14. 'We fought together as always'published at 18:46 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Italy Rugby

    Italy captain Michele Lamaro, speaking to ITV: "We felt tension before the game as we were nervous. We were close the whole game.

    "We fought together as always.

    "We stuck together as a wall in defence."

  15. 'England looked desperate, searching for help'published at 18:44 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    England will want the tournament to finish now - let's just write it off. That was a really bizarre performance. They had put themselves in a good position, but in the second half it looked like Maro was getting annoyed at Fin Smith to kick the goals.

    They were eight points ahead, and then England gave away an avalanche of errors - a collective collapse. England looked desperate, searching for help, and there was none to be found.

    England playersImage source, Getty Images
  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:42 GMT

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Don't blame the lads! The one-dimensional game based on Ford's kicking was waiting to be found out.

    Bill

  17. 'We have never seen Italy do that'published at 18:40 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Italy have dug deep and gone to the core of the earth. They were gone, and England had control of the game. What a brilliant game rugby is - how, in all that adversity, a moment from the crowd and the team can spark something in your belly and let you finish off a game like that. We have never seen Italy do that.

    They went somewhere different tonight. They deserved that win.

    Italy celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  18. Postpublished at 18:38 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Italy beat Scotland, ran Ireland close, showed heart against France, and now have beaten England.

    That result was coming. Not long ago people were wondering if they were good enough for the Six Nations.

  19. Postpublished at 18:36 GMT

    FT: Italy 23-18 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It is unacceptable for England to be making that many errors.

  20. Full-time - Italy 23-18 Englandpublished at 18:34 GMT

    History.

    Italy have beaten England for the first time.

    Success at attempt number 33.