Italy vs England LIVE: Six Nations rugby final score, result and reaction from Rome today

There’s plenty more reaction from Cardiff and Paris across The Independent, but let us now move on to today’s affairs, and start by having a gander at the runners and riders in Rome.

France and Ireland’s clash in Paris more than lived up to the hype, an encounter of fearsome ferocity as Fabien Galthie’s side held back the Irish rally to take pole position in the race for the Six Nations crown

Just before we have a closer look at the two sides selected by Kieran Crowley and Eddie Jones, let us reflect on an enthralling Saturday of Six Nations action, which began with tense, tight fare in Cardiff:

Make no mistake, Italy are very much up against things this afternoon. England are the only member of the Six Nations they have never beaten, and there is limited evidence to suggest they are capable of producing the level required to match Eddie Jones’ side over 80 minutes this afternoon.

But where the Azzurri are making greater strides towards parity is at age-group level - their Under-18s have twice beaten their English counterparts in the last few years and then in Treviso on Friday, their U20s edged out England 6-0 in a proper defensive battle. It shows the amount of talent coming through in Italy, whose likely starting fly-half and centre (Leonardo Marin and Tommaso Menoncello) were absent due to their participation in the fully-fledged side’s Six Nations campaign.

England’s players may have been edged out but it was their medics that did not cover themselves in glory. After the independent doctor ruled that Deago Bailey required a head injury assessment late on, the England doctor appeared to try and keep the winger on against concussion protocols, showing a worrying lack of regard for his player’s safety and pressurising French referee Aurélie Groizeleau, who handled the situation very well.

But that should not distract from an outstanding result for Italy which has been coming for some time at Under-20 level. Can their senior side produce something more improbable?

Healing the wounds of Murrayfield

A performance to “light up Rome” has been Jones’ mantra for the week as England begin the task of rebuilding their Six Nations title challenge after falling to Scotland in round one. For the third successive year they have stumbled at the first hurdle and only an emphatic victory against the tournament’s weakest team will enable them to move on from their self-inflicted downfall at Murrayfield

Ali v Liston III

Eddie Jones has recalled one of sport’s most iconic images to inspire the ruthlessness he wants to see from his team at the Stadio Olimpico. Muhammad Ali taunted Sonny Liston after knocking him down in the opening round of their second clash in 1965 and the picture of him stood above his stricken opponent is the metaphor Jones is using for what he wants to see from England on Sunday.

A Six Nations Valentine’s weekend concludes in Rome, with England on the road for looking to get their campaign up and running after that narrow defeat to Scotland last weekend. Italy have never beaten their visitors, but another performance of positives against France has raised home hopes of providing England with a stern examination.

Kick-off is not too far away...

Italy win: 1/50

England win: 50/1