England team to play Italy: 2024 Guinness Six Nations

byRugby Rucker

Head coach Steve Borthwick names his England team to play Italy with a number of uncapped stars set to make their international debut.

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Scroll down for the full England team to play Italy.

Ethan Roots from Exeter Chiefs and Fraser Dingwall from Northampton Saints are set to make their Test debuts, having been selected to start at blindside flanker and inside centre, respectively. Additionally, three more uncapped players—Chandler Cunningham-South, Fin Smith, and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso—have been chosen as replacements.

Bothwick said:

"After an excellent week’s preparation in Girona, we look forward to the challenge of playing Italy in Rome. The Azzurri are a dangerous team, with some talented ball carriers and players who like to find space. We’ll need to make good decisions, keep our discipline, and maintain a level of intensity to our performance from the first whistle to the last."

"Winning a first cap for your country is always a very special occasion. We’re delighted for the debutants who have all worked incredibly hard to get themselves selected in the 23 to face Italy. I know Saturday will be a very proud moment for the players and their families. My message to them this week has been to be themselves, to grasp their opportunity, and to play with the strengths and skills that deservedly got them selected to a strong Six Nations squad."

Stats:

England have won each of the 30 men’s Test matches they have played against Italy, including all 24 in the Six Nations, their average margin of victory in those 24 Championship matches is 28 points.
The last time Italy hosted England in the Six Nations (2022) they failed to score a point as they lost 33-0, it was the first time they’d failed to score a single point against England in the Championship and the sixth and most recent time against any opposition in the tournament.
Italy have won half of their last eight home matches (W4 L4), including each of their last two (v Romania and Japan), the last time they won three on the spin at home was between 1997 and 1998, when they secured victories against Ireland, Scotland and finally Argentina.
Italy come into this match off the back of two 50+ point defeats in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, against New Zealand and France, only once in their previous 50 Test matches had they suffered a defeat of this magnitude and not since 1999 had they endured back-to-back losses by such a margin (both v South Africa), they’ve never lost three consecutive matches by 50+ points.

Previous meetings:

2023: England 31-14 Italy
2022: Italy 0-33 England
2021: England 41-18 Italy
2020: Italy 5-34 England
2019: England 37-0 Italy
2019 England 57-14 Italy

England team to play Italy:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)

14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)

13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 57 caps)

12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 64 caps)

10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 91 caps) – vice captain

9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)

1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 88 caps)

2. Jamie George (Saracens, 85 caps) – captain

3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 76 caps) – vice captain

5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)

6. Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)

7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)

8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 25 caps)

Replacements

16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 7 caps)

17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 58 caps) – vice captain

18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 107 caps)

19. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)

20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, uncapped)

21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 96 caps)

22. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

23. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)

Referee's confirmed for the weekend:

Referee appointments for this weekend’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations matches, including the England vs Italy referee in Rome on Saturday have been confirmed.

France vs Ireland referee
Orange Velodrome, Marseille
Friday, 2 February, 2024

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Starting his journey as a scrum-half, Dickson showcased his skills at renowned clubs like Bedford Blues and Harlequins, culminating in a heartfelt retirement announcement in 2017. Reflecting on his playing days, he remarked, "I am able to look back at my playing career with great pride. I will cherish the memories that Harlequins has given me, both on and off the field."

Expressing optimism for the future of his former team under John Kingston's guidance, Dickson acknowledged the challenge of watching from the sidelines, saying, "It will be difficult to watch on from the peripheries going forward." Notably, his younger brother, Lee, also left his mark on the rugby field, representing England.

Referee, Karl Dickson during the Gallagher Premiership Match between Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks at Sandy Park on 12 June 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

Transitioning seamlessly from player to referee, Dickson embarked on a new chapter by studying to be a referee in 2014, even as he continued his professional playing career. His decision to pursue refereeing over a contract extension with Harlequins reflected a strategic choice for the long term, as he told Career Changers, "When it came to the final year in my contract, I had an offer on the table still from Harlequins to carry on. I thought the long-term-wise refereeing was probably something I wanted to do and pursue."

Fast forward to 2022, and Karl Dickson is set to make his mark in the prestigious Six Nations tournament as a referee, with his debut match officiating Scotland vs. France. The chairman of the World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee, Graham Mourie, extended congratulations, noting, "I would like to extend my congratulations to Nika (Amashukeli), Damon (Murphy), and Karl, who will be refereeing their first Six Nations matches."

Looking ahead, Dickson is poised to make his World Cup debut in the 2023 tournament, taking charge of the Wales vs. Portugal clash. Beyond the rugby arena, Dickson, a family man, shares twin daughters with his wife Jocelyn. Their story began on a night out in Clapham, where Dickson crossed paths with fellow player Mike Brown. Not just a rugby enthusiast, Dickson has also worn the hat of a blogger for the parenting website Baba, adding another dimension to his multifaceted persona.

Italy v England
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Saturday, 3 February, 2024

Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

Born in Taranaki, New Zealand, in 1985, Paul Williams embarked on his refereeing career in 2011, all while maintaining his role as a scrum-half at the club level. Three years later, he earned a spot in the prestigious New Zealand High Performance referee squad, rapidly progressing through the ranks within the domestic scene. By 2016, Williams made the decisive move to become a full-time referee, securing a coveted position on the Super Rugby panel.

In addition to his contributions to Super Rugby matches, Williams officiated the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship final between England and Ireland before taking on the responsibility of overseeing his inaugural international test match the following year.

Referee, Paul Williams during the Six Nations Championship, Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 4th 2023. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

His prowess as a referee was recognized on the global stage when he was selected to officiate at the esteemed 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The subsequent year marked a historic moment for Williams as he became the first New Zealand-born referee to take charge of an All Blacks' test. This groundbreaking achievement unfolded during the opening game of the Bledisloe Cup series in Wellington, cementing Paul Williams' status as a distinguished figure in international rugby officiating.

Wales v Scotland
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday, 3 February, 2024

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

Commencing his officiating journey at the young age of 19 in 2008, he later ascended to the status of a professional referee for the New Zealand Rugby Union in 2013.

In 2015, he made a notable mark by officiating his first Super Rugby match when the Highlanders clashed with the Crusaders. Prior to this milestone, he had served as an assistant referee and had blown the whistle on matches at the Junior World Championship. A year down the line, he stepped onto the international stage, taking charge of the Samoa versus Georgia match, which concluded in a 19-all draw.

Notably, O’Keeffe achieved a significant feat by being the youngest referee at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. His debut on this grand stage occurred during the Australia versus Fiji match at the Sapporo Dome, further solidifying his presence and capabilities in the world of rugby officiating.

Manu Tuilagi of England is shown a red card and sent off by Referee, Ben O'Keeffe during the Guinness Six Nations Match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on March 7 2020. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

Quiz: Can you all of the Guinness Six Nations winning captains?

Our latest quiz invites you to identify those who have captained their nations to Guinness Six Nations glory. It's worth noting that in certain instances, there may be multiple captains from the same year due to factors such as injuries and rotation.

Surnames only will be accepted.