Italy v England, Saturday 3 Feb 2024, 2.15pm (ITV)

[FKAS]

A shame, but Ange Capuozzo has withdrawn from the side due to a stomach bug (a dodgy pizza con fungi?) and is replaced by Lorenzo Pani (Zebre 5 caps)

Big blow for the Azzurri, he's a game changer.

[Mr Mwenda]

What a shame, that lad has talent! Makes England's job easier.

[Skalyba]

In the DT this morning it is reported that Fin Smith WAS lined up for bench duty had Marcus been fit to start. With Ford's fitness a bit suspect as well, might NOT starting Fin against Italy be a mistake? It risks him having to make his first start against Ireland or France should both other FHs be unavailable.

As a principle, I do not like a player being declared 2nd choice only to then be relegated to 3rd choice without having had a chance to play.

If Ford was 'rested' originally how can he be fit (or in form) to start? He should be on the bench at best, IMO.

I think we saw in the WC that Borthwick doesn't necessarily see the bench (o squad) as 2nd cab off the rank when it comes. I think he has a clear picture of 'if this player goes down, this is who I replace him with', whether they are in the squad or not. Our greatest strength is our breadth of players, I like that he uses that and has a purpose in mind for each player

[Oakboy]

In the DT this morning it is reported that Fin Smith WAS lined up for bench duty had Marcus been fit to start. With Ford's fitness a bit suspect as well, might NOT starting Fin against Italy be a mistake? It risks him having to make his first start against Ireland or France should both other FHs be unavailable.

As a principle, I do not like a player being declared 2nd choice only to then be relegated to 3rd choice without having had a chance to play.

If Ford was 'rested' originally how can he be fit (or in form) to start? He should be on the bench at best, IMO.

I think we saw in the WC that Borthwick doesn't necessarily see the bench (o squad) as 2nd cab off the rank when it comes. I think he has a clear picture of 'if this player goes down, this is who I replace him with', whether they are in the squad or not. Our greatest strength is our breadth of players, I like that he uses that and has a purpose in mind for each player

IF Ford is fully fit and has somehow found form in the training camp, I accept that the viewpoint makes sense. Otherwise, protecting him for this game seems more sensible to me. Maybe, SB is simply satisfied that he has only been off his best because he has not been fully fit in club games and now he is 100%. We will see.

[FKAS]

In the DT this morning it is reported that Fin Smith WAS lined up for bench duty had Marcus been fit to start. With Ford's fitness a bit suspect as well, might NOT starting Fin against Italy be a mistake? It risks him having to make his first start against Ireland or France should both other FHs be unavailable.

As a principle, I do not like a player being declared 2nd choice only to then be relegated to 3rd choice without having had a chance to play.

If Ford was 'rested' originally how can he be fit (or in form) to start? He should be on the bench at best, IMO.

I think we saw in the WC that Borthwick doesn't necessarily see the bench (o squad) as 2nd cab off the rank when it comes. I think he has a clear picture of 'if this player goes down, this is who I replace him with', whether they are in the squad or not. Our greatest strength is our breadth of players, I like that he uses that and has a purpose in mind for each player

Borthwick did used to talk about the best make up of the team over 80 mins when he was at Tigers. As you say didn't necessarily mean the best players started or the second best would be on the bench. They'd be stuff like loading the bench so we'd endure the first half and then unload the bench to target the tiring opposition or start with the second choice props and bring first choice on at half time and target the scrums.

Borthwick likes his tactics and doesn't tend to keep them the same game to game albeit there are obviously go to elements (like everyone's favourite kicking).

[Danno]

Genge out, Obano on the bench! (Sucks for Genge obvs)

[Mikey Brown]

Great to see Obano though, not like Genge will suffer much for missing this.

Smiling, positive Steve really freaks me out. It’s like when Mark Zuckerberg does it.

[Banquo]

backrow awol

[Danno]

What a mess

[Banquo]

pens ...

[Banquo]

backrow awol.

[Danno]

Can't fault that, lovely score

[Banquo]

Can't fault that, lovely score

poor d imo

[FKAS]

Can't fault that, lovely score

poor d imo

Definitely. Chessum shoots out the line and then Marler walks towards the contact making a soft tackle it's easy to offload from. Steward makes a good covering tackle but whomever is there with him seems to fall over as opposed to either stopping the offload or lining up a tackle on the support player. I suspect that one will be pulled apart at the debrief with some harsh words.

[FKAS]

backrow awol.

Pack is AWOL so far.

[Banquo]

thats good, and fair play rooots

[FKAS]

Tommy Freeman doing Tommy Freeman things.

[Banquo]

mitchell kicking good

[Banquo]

daft kick

[Banquo]

roots carrying well fair play, then silly

[Banquo]

Tommy Freeman doing Tommy Freeman things.

good inne

[FKAS]

roots carrying well fair play, then silly

As the ref said, he was close. He wins that penalty and then we've got an easy kick to the corner.

[Banquo]

what the fuck were they doing in defence???

[Captainhaircut]

No idea why we keep going back to Slade like he is going to produce something different. Get Freeman to 13.

[Oakboy]

Italy flowing. We are box-kicking. When will the penny drop?