Six Nations news: England and Steve Borthwick need to entertain the fans against Italy

England find themselves in a healthy position on the Six Nations table after taking two wins from their three hardest games, meaning it is time to entertain the fans against Italy on Saturday.

And with the fate of the Championship resting almost exclusively on the outcome of Ireland’s showdown with France in Dublin, England can afford to cut loose.

After two fortunate but impressive victories over France and Scotland, now is the time for Steve Borthwick to show that his England side is more than just a flash in the pan.

Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliott analyses the importance of a big win at Twickenham.

Promising England need to deliver

In their last two matches, England have finally shown the ability to snatch games back from the brink – a critical attribute of all title-winning sides.

That those fixtures were against two very capable teams in France and Scotland made it all the more impressive.

This weekend, however, they go up against a team with far less quality on the pitch in Italy, so they need a different kind of win.

A close victory over the Italians will set off the alarm bells and lead to more questions being asked of the much-maligned Borthwick.

Win big and with a bit of style, though, and suddenly England look like a serious team.

If France manage to overturn the Irish at the Aviva, the Championship would go down to the final day and perhaps even be decided by bonus points.

For that reason alone, England have to be setting themselves up for a big, bonus-point win on Saturday.

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Borthwick must loosen up

Borthwick is very statistical in how he approaches the game, but against Italy his team must be given the freedom to express themselves.

There is, after all, an abundance of talent in the English ranks, so much so that tactical rigidity should not be necessary in order to beat the limited Italians.

It is also worth remembering that the majority of good performances during Borthwick’s tenure have ended in defeat, while most of the wins have come after average performances.

Now there is a huge chance to both put in a good performance and get a good result, and Borthwick and his men simply have to grab the opportunity.

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An opportunity for emerging stars

A good performance against Italy will give certain players a much-needed chance to shine and gain confidence.

Emerging stars such as Fraser Dingwall and Fin Smith can use the game to further establish themselves in the national set-up, while already established players can build individual momentum ahead of future high-stakes matches.

The Six Nations is a tournament that tests team dynamics amongst other things, and a match-up with Italy provides England with the perfect opportunity to refine their tactics and trial a few combinations.

While the selection of someone like Elliot Daly might seem quite uninspiring, his presence in the team hopefully enables the younger and more dynamic talent around him to flourish.

Not every player can be a star at the end of the day, and sometimes you need a steady and consistent hand to give freedom to a Tommy Freeman or an Ollie Sleightholme.

As things stand, England’s good recent results have not translated into happy fans, making the visit of Italy a great chance to cut loose, silence the doubters, and bring back a sense of pride.

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