England v Italy: Women’s Six Nations – live

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Brian Moore is the co-commentator alongside Orchard. Here he is in 1991.

Brian Moore, England rugby, 1991. Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images

The teams are about to make their way out on the pitch. The BBC commentator, Sara Orchard, tells us there have been big queues to get into the stadium.

A huge cheer for England – Marlie Packer, the captain, welcome each member of the England squad on to the pitch.

The pitch, but the way, is immaculately kept at Franklin’s Gardens, and the weather is decent. We should see some attractive running rugby.

Any thoughts before this one? Get in touch! You can email me or tweet.

Simon Middleton, the England head coach, has a chat with the BBC: “We knew Poppy [Cleall] and Amber Reed weren’t going to be fit pretty early in the week, so we were able to fill those positions … it’s a great opportunity to look at a couple more players.

“[Second row] Delaney Burns has come in … she’s had very little experience in the camp [before her debut] … she’s run the lineout with Zoe Aldcroft, she does that for Bristol … she’s pretty seamless in it. It’s been a great experience for her, and great for us working with her.”

Giovanni Raineri, Italy head coach, speaks:

“Definitely we know we are playing one of the strongest teams in the world … we are ready … England are so good in terms of physicality, in playing with the ball.

“Passion is our blood … every time, we bring it in our rugby. The girls fight with passion for the whole match. It’s part of our rugby.”

Excitingly, over in the Champions Cup last 16, Exeter v Montpellier has gone to extra time, having finished 26-26.

Sarah Hunter, newly retired, is on pundit duty with the BBC. She is asked about her post-match celebrations last week: “It wasn’t a really late one,” says Hunter. “I was with friends and family … I just wanted to ensure I enjoyed the night, that it wasn’t one I looked back on and said: ‘What happened?’”

Here we go then. BBC2’s Women’s Six Nations coverage is kicking off, following the conclusion of Arsenal’s 2-1 WSL win against Manchester City.

Brilliant stuff from Séamas O’Reilly:

“Before England played Ireland in the final game of the Six Nations, we asked my son which team he supported. ‘Ireland,’ he said, cheerily, before adding somewhat cryptically ‘because they don’t always do the right thing’. We’re still not sure what that meant, or how fervent his Irish patriotism really is, since he reacted to England’s defeat with huge, racking sobs …

“We can’t ignore the possibility that our sense of Irish identity has left him eager to embrace his Englishness. To be clear, we know he’s both and such queries don’t give us the same urge to place him in an Irish Heritage Re-Education Camp we have witnessed among some of our other Irish friends here.”

Yesterday in the Women’s Six Nations: France blew Ireland away, despite being a player down after 20 minutes, while Wales won in Scotland to make it two wins from two and go top of the table.

The Bristol second row Delaney Burns makes her England debut as the Red Roses look to make it two Six Nations wins out of two against Italy. Simon Middleton has been forced into a number of changes due to injuries, not to mention Hunter’s retirement following the win against Scotland.

Marlie Packer takes over as captain, Zoe Aldcroft will start at No 8, while Cath O’Donnell is named in the second row. Harlequins’ Emily Robinson is on the bench and could make her debut.

Three changes for Italy: Sofia Stefan moves to the wing, with Sara Barattin slotting in at scrum-half. Gaia Maris will pack down with Lucia Gai and Vittoria Vecchini in the front row, Silvia Turani missing out. Sara Tounesi starts at lock, replacing Valeria Fedrighi.

Teams

Preamble

England kicked off their 2023 Six Nations campaign with a typically dominant 58-7 victory against Scotland, with Sarah Hunter hanging up her boots at the end of a remarkable career.

Italy, England’s opponents this afternoon, were on the wrong side of a much tighter scoreline last weekend, pushing France all the way but succumbing 22-12 in wet and windy conditions in Parma.

Yesterday’s results mean that Wales top the table, with two bonus-point wins on the board, while France are also two from two but have one point fewer, having failed to pick up a try bonus last week.

Simply put, if injury-hampered England are going to stay on terms with their title rivals and stay on course to retain their title, they need to win today. Italy’s spirited effort against France last week suggests that will be not be a straightforward task.

Kick-off: 3pm