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Snippet<br />

England are the favourites to win the competition and are expected to get off to a winning<br />

start in the Italian capital<br />

England kick off their Six Nations campaign with a trip to Rome to face off against Italy on<br />

Sunday.<br />

Eddie Jones' men are the favourites to retain their crown and become the first team in<br />

history to win it three times on the bounce.<br />

Wales and Ireland got their championships off to the perfect start on Saturday when they<br />

defeated Scotland and France respectively.<br />

It should be the same story for England, who are overwhelming favourites to waltz past an<br />

improving Italian side, setting them on their way to a potential final weekend decider with<br />

Ireland at Twickenham.<br />

Ben Te’o returns from the injury wilderness to start for England as Jones looks to add punch<br />

to his midfield, with power ball carriers Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes both lost to<br />

injuries of their own.<br />

Dylan Hartley retains the captaincy and wins his 90th cap. Ben Youngs starts his 56th Test<br />

match - overtaking Matt Dawson’s record of most starts for an England halfback.<br />

Follow all the action as it happens below...<br />

Key Events<br />

Italy looking for a way through but England defending well<br />

Kick from Italy puts England under pressure. Mike Brown covers well but England now<br />

camped inside their own third.<br />

Miss!<br />

Farrell strikes his conversion off the post<br />

Owen Farrell with a chance to convert here<br />

15:04KEY EVENT TRY!<br />

England have taken the lead early on here. A sweeping move out to the right found Anthony<br />

Watson who carries it over the line for the try.<br />

Off we go<br />

We are underway!<br />

A bit of a bobbly kick-off, but here we go.<br />

On a side note, Alessandro Zanni makes his 100th appearance for Italy here today. He’s<br />

been given a rapturous reception at the Olympic Stadium.<br />

(Image: REUTERS)<br />

Anthems done and we are set to go!<br />

Sergio Parisse looks as intense as always, but he knows he has got his work cut out if Italy<br />

are going to get anything out of this.<br />

Italy definitely win the anthems competition - they were louder and prouder than England!<br />

Teams on the pitch<br />

The teams are on their way out onto the pitch.<br />

It’s a packed stadium here in Rome, as the locals get set for the opening game.<br />

National anthems are set to take place, then the action begins!<br />

Talking point 5: Azzurri making progress?<br />

Conor O’Shea has entered the second year of his reign as Italy coach and while it remains<br />

early days, it is hoped this championship will show signs of his ambition to bring greater<br />

levels of professionalism to the national team.<br />

Their place in the Six Nations remains assured despite calls for relegation, but their record<br />

of 12 bottom-place finishes in 18 tournaments is a statistic that must be improved.<br />

Meanwhile, we are just 10 minutes away from kick-off.<br />

(Image: AFP) Talking point 4: Bonus points bonanza<br />

Italy can be dangerous opening day opponents, ready to spring a surprise when they are at<br />

their freshest and least affected by injury.<br />

England are odds on favourites to leave Rome with a victory from their title defence opener,<br />

but in a Six Nations widely tipped to be among the closest yet, securing the bonus point<br />

could be critical.<br />

(Image: Europe) Sam Underhill warms up before the match (Image: REUTERS)<br />

Talking point 3: Mischief making Azzurri<br />

Jones has described Italy as “mischievous” when reflecting on what they might have up their<br />

sleeves on Sunday.

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