Overview
- England removed Tom Curry from the starting XV after he suffered a knock during a mauling drill in the pre‑match warm‑up at the Stadio Olimpico.
- Broadcasters reported that Curry hobbled off with assistance from medical staff and was ruled out shortly before kickoff.
- Sam Underhill stepped up from the bench to start in the back row, and Chandler Cunningham‑South was added to the replacements.
- The specific nature of Curry’s injury and any recovery timeline were not confirmed in initial reports.
- The disruption followed a sweeping overhaul to England’s lineup after losses to Scotland and a record defeat by Ireland, with Italy seeking a first-ever win over England in the Six Nations.