England Suffers Shocking Collapse Against Italy in Rome After Historic Winning Streak

Just a few weeks ago, things looked almost perfect for England national rugby union team.

After dismantling Wales national rugby union team by 41 points on 7 February, England celebrated their 12th straight Test victory—the third-longest winning streak in their 155-year rugby history.

At that moment, fans were already dreaming of a Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship.

Confidence was high, momentum was building, and head coach Steve Borthwick appeared to have his side heading in the right direction.

But sport moves quickly. By early March, that optimism had evaporated.

England suffered back-to-back defeats to Scotland national rugby union team and Ireland national rugby union team before losing—shockingly—to Italy national rugby union team for the first time ever in the Six Nations era.

In the space of a month, a title challenge had turned into a crisis.

Defensive Cracks Exposed

One of the biggest reasons for England’s collapse has been their defense.

During the tournament, opponents repeatedly exploited the wide channels, especially around the 10-metre area.

Italy’s decisive try, scored by Leonardo Marin, followed a similar pattern seen in earlier losses—quick line breaks exposing England’s edges.

Statistics underline the problem.

Across rounds two, three, and four, England missed 35 tackles that directly led to line breaks or tries.

More than half occurred out wide, showing how vulnerable the team has become on the flanks.

Under Borthwick’s leadership, England have also conceded more than 20 points per game on average in the Six Nations—an uncomfortable record for a team historically known for defensive solidity.

Attack Losing Its Sharp Edge

England’s attack has also faltered at the worst possible time.

In 2025, they were one of the most dangerous attacking teams in world rugby, finishing second only to South Africa national rugby union team in tries scored.

They even produced a spectacular seven-try performance against Wales earlier this year.

But since then, the attack has sputtered.

Across the next three matches, England managed just seven additional tries, failing to secure a single bonus point.

Much of the problem has come inside the opposition’s 22-metre area, where composure has disappeared.

Despite entering the red zone 48 times in the tournament, England have averaged just two points per visit—an extremely poor return at elite level.

Turnovers and mistakes have made matters worse:

17 turnovers conceded in the red zone against Scotland, Ireland, and Italy
14 handling errors inside the opposition 22
Multiple attacking opportunities wasted through basic mistakes

In short, England are reaching dangerous positions but failing to finish the job.

Discipline Problems Costing Dearly

If missed tackles and attacking errors weren’t enough, discipline has been another major issue.

England have spent 108 minutes with only 14 players due to yellow cards during the championship.

That’s the equivalent of more than five quarters of rugby played a man down.

In the defeat to Italy, yellow cards for Sam Underhill and captain Maro Itoje changed the momentum completely.

England led by eight points before the hour mark but ended up trailing after the penalties and sin-bin spells took their toll.

Half of England’s 44 conceded penalties have come at the breakdown—another indicator that discipline and decision-making are costing them dearly.

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One more yellow card against France national rugby union team could see England match the highest number of cards ever recorded in a Six Nations campaign.

The Complicated Legacy of Steve Borthwick

The pressure on Steve Borthwick has intensified.

When he replaced Eddie Jones as England head coach in December 2022, the team was already struggling.

The final years of Jones’ tenure had produced inconsistent results, including defeats to Argentina national rugby union team and heavy losses to South Africa.

Borthwick initially stabilized things and nearly led England to the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, falling just short against South Africa.

Yet his tenure has been full of contrasts:

High points

Near-World Cup final appearance in 2023
A 12-game winning streak
Major victories over France, Ireland, and New Zealand

Low points

First-ever defeat to Fiji national rugby union team
First Six Nations loss to Italy
Several heavy defeats at Twickenham

With a win rate of about 59% from 44 matches, Borthwick sits in the middle of the pack among England’s professional-era coaches.

A Tough Final Test Awaits in Paris

England now head into their final match against France in Paris.

The odds are stacked against them.

England have lost 10 of their last 14 away games in the Six Nations and have not beaten France in France for nearly a decade.

Meanwhile, France—coached by Fabien Galthié—know that a bonus-point win would secure a record eighth Six Nations title.

However, the tournament has been unpredictable.

France themselves conceded 50 points to Scotland recently, revealing weaknesses in their defense and scrum.

That scrum battle may be England’s best chance of disrupting the French title celebrations.

Impact and Consequences

England’s slump has wider implications beyond this tournament.

First, confidence inside the squad has taken a hit.

A team that looked unstoppable a month ago now faces questions about its mental strength and discipline.

Second, the coaching staff are under increasing scrutiny.

If England finish with four defeats—something they haven’t done in a Five or Six Nations campaign since 1976—calls for changes could grow louder.

Finally, the losses have dented England’s reputation as one of rugby’s most consistent nations. Rebuilding momentum before upcoming international tours will be crucial.

What’s Next?

The immediate focus is the clash with France in Paris.

For England, the goals are simple:

Avoid a fourth defeat in the tournament
Restore confidence in both attack and defense
End the championship on a positive note

Longer term, Borthwick will need to address several key issues:

Defensive organization on the edges
Discipline at the breakdown
Efficiency in the red zone

If those areas improve, England could quickly return to being contenders rather than crisis victims.

Summary

England’s Six Nations campaign has unraveled at remarkable speed.

A record-chasing winning streak and Grand Slam hopes have given way to defensive errors, attacking wastefulness, and disciplinary problems.

The historic defeat to Italy exposed weaknesses that had been building for weeks.

Now, with a daunting trip to Paris looming, England must rediscover their resilience or risk finishing the tournament with one of their worst records in decades.

Bulleted Takeaways

England entered the Six Nations with 12 consecutive victories and Grand Slam ambitions.
Losses to Scotland, Ireland, and Italy dramatically changed the tournament narrative.
Defensive issues, particularly on the flanks, have led to 35 missed tackles resulting in breaks or tries.
England’s attack has struggled in the red zone, averaging only two points per visit.
Discipline has been costly, with 108 minutes played with 14 men due to yellow cards.
Head coach Steve Borthwick faces mounting scrutiny despite earlier successes.
A final match against France in Paris could determine whether the campaign ends in humiliation or redemption.