Match thread #ITAvENG #M6N #6Nations #Rugby

Mute or follow these hashtags and this thread and me as needed for three hours or so. Six if #Italy win 😜

Nine changes to the #England team, might be their downfall?

Let's watch some rugby!

Now up to TEN changes for #England #Rugby !Tom Curry injured during the warmup, Underhill takes his place.
Ref Luc Ramos - his first #6Nations match in charge
I'd have taken the three points on offer. And Italy snaffle it up, three points wasted.
Good mauling from Italy. Good yards.

Genge. Oh Genge. "I want a gap, I do. I don't think they do sir. I think they want to pre-engage".

😜

Is that blood or paint?

Italy committing hard at the breakdown, I think we'll see quite a few turnovers. Italy so far nimble, agile, creating opportunities if kicking a little too deep.

20 minutes in, no scores, great competition so far.

Take the three! Yes, Italy call for posts, should be three on the board.
Try England, no conversion. Clever use of the ball to create overlap.
Gonzalo getting very excited in the coach box,
Ref getting into England physio team about a blood injury. Medic assures him it's not a blood injury, while wiping up all the blood and covering it with a very large bandage.

There. It. Is.

Bloody lovely.

If we can keep this scoreline for five minutes, excellent half time energy.

#ForzaAzzurri

I'm just thinking out loud, but at a guess have more of the Italian team played under this ref before? His calls are as idiosyncratic as any ref, but England don't seem to be able to read him yet.
@jaz First time he refs an international game (he did U-20s and obviously Top14)
@jaz Sorry, I was wrong, he refed Rugby Europe Championship in 2019 (Romania-Portugal). Still his first 6Nations game.