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Three down, two to go - England's latest test in their campaign for a first Grand Slam in a decade is Italy's visit to Twickenham.
Stuart Lancaster's side remain a young team continuing to soak up every experience that is thrown their way, be they good or bad - and based on this year's Six Nations alone, no single experience has been quite like the next.
Starting with the win over Scotland - there were times when England were both clinical but also careless, coming away with four tries but safe in the knowledge that they could have produced more.
England could afford to leave chances out on the field, but no such leniency was allowed in Dublin against Ireland. The unhappiest of hunting grounds in recent Six Nations history, England put to a bed another 10 year dearth of victories under grim conditions in a fixture that was pure brutality.
Which brings us to England's most recent lesson in their ongoing education - after all Stuart Lancaster is a trained teacher. Their opening 40 minutes against France was easily their worst performance of the Six Nations so far, with a collection of missed tackles, small errors and petulance.
Their second half came down to better discipline, a touch of fortune in the build-up to Manu Tuilagi's try and some suicidal substitutions from Philippe Saint-André which handed England an advantage.
To win having played at their worst - a level that was still good enough to produce outstanding performances from Chris Robshaw and Tom Wood - is a testimony to their progression.
Speaking of progression, there might be no greater disappointment come the end of this Six Nations than Italy's failure to kick on. Crushing France on the opening weekend promised so much more.
Luciano Orquera played the game of his life against the French, making people openly question whether he was finally Italy's answer to the 10 shirt, before immediately dispelling those thoughts with a nightmare showing against Scotland.
When Wales visited the Stadio Olimpico two weeks ago, Italy could not reproduce the magic of that first Sunday. Sergio Parisse's absence was sorely felt, but the man does not hold sole control over his side's fortunes.
Recapture that spark from the victory over France, and Italy have hope. Not that the bookies agree, pricing them at 40/1 for a first ever victory over England this weekend.
Lancaster has decided to "freshen up" his side for the visit of the Azzurri, handing deserved opportunities to half-backs Danny Care and Toby Flood - who starts in place of the injured Owen Farrell - along with the powerful Mako Vunipola and Tom Youngs.
The other change sees James Haskell return at blindside flanker ahead of Courtney Lawes, who drops to the bench alongside Tom Croft.
The return of Parisse after winning his appeal undoubtedly makes Italy stronger, their pack will always be able to challenge in the set-piece, but the spark appears to have gone. Given their track record of having never won against England, Sunday would be an ideal time to rediscover it.
Players to watch:
For England: A starter and a substitute will be the main attractions from an English perspective on Sunday. Danny Care has been forced to bide his time behind Ben Youngs throughout England's recent victories, but has maintained an excellent run of club form for Harlequins. His stunning try against Leicester Tigers last month has lodged in the minds of supporters and no doubt selectors too - now he has a chance to lay down a marker. Plenty of Test sides would be delighted to select one of Care or Youngs - England are lucky to have both of them. The other attention-grabber will be Tom Croft, who returns on the bench to win his first cap in a year after a career-threatening neck injury.
For Italy: How can you not look at Sergio Parisse? The Azzurri talisman has come in for a fair amount of criticism after being sent off for insulting referee Laurent Cardona in the Top 14. Now cleared on appeal, certain figures in the game were all too happy to offer their thoughts on the darker side to Parisse's character that others either chose to ignore, or were unaware of. His inclusion makes Italy a far better side, but he cannot win this match on his own.
Head-to-head: No one loves a battle at the scrum more than the Italians - well, probably no one. Sunday will serve up a feast of large proportions with Mako Vunipola packing down opposite the cult hero of Martin Castrogiovanni. Vunipola has been gradually eased into international rugby thanks to a handful of substitute appearances, and given the bold compliment from England forwards coach Graham Rowntree that he could not find a fault in his game. A first start is warranted and Vunipola will be licking his lips at taking on Castrogiovanni, whose reputation precedes him. If Castro finds the advantage, Italy will have a strong enough platform to threaten. If Vunipola snuffs out an Italian positive, then game over.
Previous results:
2012: England won 19-15 in Rome
2011: England won 59-13 at Twickenham
2010: England won 17-12 in Rome
2009 :England won 36-11 at Twickenham
2008: England won 23-19 in Rome
2007: England won 20-7 at Twickenham
2006: England won 31-16 in Rome
2005: England won 39-7 at Twickenham
2004: England won 50-9 in Rome
2003: England won 40-5 at Twickenham
2002: England won 40-9 in Rome
2001: England won 80-23 at Twickenham
2000: England won 59-12 in Rome
Prediction: This one is relatively simple. England have never lost to Italy and at Twickenham their average winning margin over the Azzurri is 33. Whilst contests between these two sides in Rome tend to be edgy, something about Twickenham brings out the worst in Italian rugby. The pack will play their part but as Italy dropped off the longer the game went on against Wales two weeks ago, the same should be expected at Twickenham. England by 18.
The teams:
England: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Mike Brown, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 James Haskell, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 David Wilson, 18 Joe Marler, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovambattista Venditti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c) 1 Alberto De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Simone Favaro, 22 Tobias Botes, 23Tommaso Benvenuti.
Date: Sunday, 10 March
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Weather: 4° C. Wet and fairly miserable at Twickenham.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
By Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
lawynd says...
@lacroix - do tell us who you think is the second best English fly half, I'm sure we're all agog to hear your wonderful insights.
Posted 13:23 10th March 2013
markpat says...
I was the person who said I would like to see Billy V starting, but only if Parisse WASN'T playing, not if he was.
Italy's pack without Parisse aren't a shadow of the pack when he plays.
Posted 13:03 10th March 2013
TVaddict says...
@Waz4before
I'm sorry, did I say something controversial? Are you a massive Ashton fan or something? I am a huge Lancaster fan and have loved how many new players he's brought in but he needs to do more with the back three. It's well documented by various other pundits that his loyalty to Ashton is bewildering considering his lack of form and Lancaster's policy of only picking form players. Just because he is winning doesn't mean he couldn't do things better, that's how you make progress. And again I say, if the comment section isn't the place to give your opinions then where is?
Posted 12:36 10th March 2013
Noshonmescrote says...
Ugh, you're so unbearable when you're winning.
FORZA AZZURRI!!!
Posted 11:35 10th March 2013
heart_of_oak says...
Lawynd - wasn't me who said that. I'd like to have seen Billy V starting but certainly on the bench if not starting. Besides which I'd have had to be sober to make an informed comment yesterday and that was a complete non starter.
These damn underscores in my 'nom de plume' are an almighty pain.
Posted 21:05 09th March 2013
lacroix says...
toby flood
really? by what standard is he the number 2 fly half in england?
Posted 15:19 09th March 2013
lawynd says...
Someone, it may have been ArmchairGeneral or Heart_of_oak, suggested that this was the wrong game for BV (let's just abbreviate it all the way chaps!) now that Parisse is free to play. I completely agree, he's nowhere near the finished article and could end up getting his arse completely handed to him by one of the best eights in the world of all time; that isn't going to do his development any favours. He should be one of the first players on the plane to Argentina this summer but, due to circumstances, this 6N tournament is a couple of games to early for him. Just being in the wider training group will have been immeasurably beneficial for him and some of the other players, though.
Just for fun, here's my 23 for the first game in Argentina, making some heavy assumptions about Lions selection of course.
15 - Matthew Tait (not in the Saxons but having a promising season, deputising for Murphy)
14 - Christian Wade
13 - Elliot Daly
12 - Billy Twelvetrees
11 - Jonny May
10 - Freddie Burns
9 - Richard Wigglesworth
1 - Mako Vunipola
2 - Tom Youngs
3 - Kieran Brookes
4 - Ed Slater
5 - Graham Kitchener
6 - Tom Croft
7 - Will Fraser
8 - Billy Vunipola
16 - Joe Marler
17 - Joe Gray
18 - Matt Mullan
19 - Courtney Lawes (not on form or fully fit, but I wouldn't object if others put him in ahead of Slater or Kitchener)
20 - James Haskell
21 - Joe Simpson
22 - George Ford
23 - Kyle Eastmond
Posted 13:42 09th March 2013
TVaddict says...
@stumpy
You do understand that the point of a comment section on the page detailing the team is for you to give your opinions of the team selected, right? Just stating 'I trust in Lancaster' every time a team is selected would be a bit boring.
Posted 11:59 09th March 2013
Waz4before says...
@ TVaddict - I nearly fell off my set when I read your comments; Lancasters not experimenting enough? What, having thrown out the majority of the first team squad after RWC and handed out god knows how many first caps he hasn't experimented? And for gods sake, he's won 4 on the bounce and is on the verge of taking Engand to a Cardiff grand slam decider!! so it is true: THE ENGLISH WILL ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT !!
Posted 11:50 09th March 2013
stumpy says...
When teams are announced, reading comments is really dull. Its flooded with people ranting about one or two players they wish were selected. Look folks, theres plenty of changes I would make to the teams, but you need to realise the chances of you agreeing with a team of 15 players 100% is quite unlikely. Lancaster has done a fantastic job so far, so in him we trust. Not only that, but everyone is rallying more changes to test new players, but how ridiculous would we look if by doing too much we ended up losing the game (regardless of how unlikely). We want a grandslam, and too ensure that, I can understand Lancasters thinking with switching a few players from the bench but not changing too much.
Posted 11:26 09th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Hi TV: I was thinking that also but then changed my mind. Tournament win is everything. Winning in Twickenham is everything upto WC. Italy can beat good teams. I will feel as you do if he does not try new things vs Wales. Grand Slam with tournament won is not vital in 2013. But it is in 2014 to show progress. So have some fun vs Wales and still have a good chance of Tripple Crown/GS. That would give a better mind set as well in the final game.
Posted 10:57 09th March 2013
ben7 says...
Wanted to see Foden, Twelvetrees and Wade starting but noooo
Posted 10:04 09th March 2013
TVaddict says...
I have to say I don't totally agree with Lancaster on this team and am a bit disappointed. This was the game to test out some new combinations and he's been so reserved with this selection it's frustrating. Biggest disappointment is for Billy Vunipola not being at least on the bench as I don't believe Croft is match fit and doesn't deserve his place after only a few games and one week training with the squad. Second, not trying at least one new player in the back three, or even bringing Foden back on the wing, is far too reserved. We desperately need some more exciting players in the back three and we have them in the likes of May, Daly, Wade, etc... For me this is Ashtons last chance, if he fails to perform then he should be dropped and someone other than Strettle brought in. Also if Goode fails to be incisive in attack again then let's move Brown to fullback where he belongs and bring someone new at 11. We can have a more exciting and more defensively sound back three with other players so let's not drag this period out much longer. Lastly, I think Barritt should have been rested and 36 given another chance, hopefully he'll get at least 20 mins or so to show what he can do with Tuilagi on one side and Burns on the other. That is an exciting looking midfield!
So yes I think we'll win, and probably by 20-30 point if it's not too wet, but I think we've missed a real opportunity to experiment and make our squad stronger. I'm glad he's given another chance to Youngs and a start for Vunipola though, as they'll give us some much needed umph in attack.
@heart_of_oak
Totally agree with you however! Italy has amazing food and wine, a brilliantly interesting past, a lovely warm climate, and most of their people (i.e. not the crazy football fans) are very friendly and welcoming. Great place!
Posted 07:54 09th March 2013
heart_of_oak says...
It's Friday and I've been at the beers again. So don't take me too seriously folks.
We play Italy this week and guess what, I'm a proud Englishman but I love Italy.
Take a look at this : http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqNEGuiQLRE/TcFOi9ebTtI/AAAAAAAAFJE/GG8NnguaaAE/s1600/Sistine+Chapel+Ceiling+and+Altar+Wall.jpg
or this.... http://www.italy-pictures.net/
Posted 00:27 09th March 2013
Lucasrg says...
What a differnet squad for Italy. 2 very experienced centers that havent been togheter on the piotch for over 5 years? Garcia is pretty solid in defence, quick hands and a decent long range boot. Canale is not my favorite there and benvenuti or Iannone should have taken the place. Good to see yuong Furno and so happy to see Barbieri starting up. Terrific back row for Italy. For the rest...seems pretty sperimental the squad, maybe Brunel will surpise us with something interisting to watch, but I doubt we will be even close to striking range. If we can do this the whole game and still loosing but 7-10 points I could be satisfied.
By the way...I'll be at Twickenham!
Forza Italia!
Posted 20:13 08th March 2013
markpat says...
Sorry to disagree with some of the huge respect being shown to Italy. They still don't travel well and I think, if England are, as they like to say, wanting to be true contenders in 2015, we have to set better benchmarks than a 12 point victory in a home game against Italy with a pretty much full strength side at our disposal.
In my opinion, even with huge respect to what Italy can do, 15+ should be the minimum that Englan take as a decent result at Twickenham. Italy should not be in the same category as England at home and, therefore, you should be looking at 4 tries or 30 points as a decent expection (regardless of whether there are bonus points or not).
I don't want us to get to the next World Cup still struggling against 2nd tier (and 3rd tier) teams, if we are viewing ourselves as 1st tier.
Posted 20:01 08th March 2013
Headhunter99 says...
Nice to see a quality publication that checks its copy before printing... Bloody glad PR are not handling any serious fiscal issues.
England by 20 as I think the Italians will tire pretty badly in the 2nd half... if SL is serious about trying to win the RWC these are the games where you never hold anything back, if the opposition show the slightest weakness you go all out to bury them.
We must not forget we were very fortunate in Rome last year not to lose.
As for the others Ireland to edge France and I'd love the Scots to beat the Welsh.
Posted 17:29 08th March 2013
NHsaints says...
Honestly I have no clue about the margin for this one but it's unlikely Italy will come close, if Youngs can sort his head out in the lineouts and combines well with Vunipola in the scrum then I see England by 20+ if not then England by 14.
Posted 17:24 08th March 2013
Coshie78 says...
I think people are reading a little too much into the French game. France created about 5 or 6 scoring chances only to knock-on or give away a penalty for crossing or cut inside etc We only one offload away several times... Italy showed great resolve, a fighiting spirit and took advantage of some quick turnover ball, but that performance still wouldn't have beaten most sides in this chamionship... I'm afraid France were the masters of their own destruction in that game...
They will have to play far better then they did on that day in Rome to beat England away and I'm not sure they can...
England supporters have been arguing over Farrell, Flood, Burns, Care & Youngs, all of which are streets above anything the Italians can offer at half back...
Parisse is a great player, but even if he is worth 5 points to them, that is not enough... Castro is great, but Cole starts ahead of him at Leics now...
England can play poorly and still win by 18...
Will not be a popular, but is my honest opinon based on what I have seen so far this championship.
That resolve and fighting spirit has since been knocked out of the Italians and we are yet to see it from them at Twickenham over the years...
Posted 15:12 08th March 2013
butl says...
Yes, Two to go surely
Posted 14:17 08th March 2013