This is very canny play from Italy.

They are not committing any men to the breakdown so that it does not constitute a ruck.

Which means there is no back foot.

Which means they can flood over to England's side of things and start man-marking.

England are flummoxed by that loophole. That is not a look they will have prepared for at Bagshot.

Former England scrum-half Kyran Bracken clearly wants a game here...

No score from the opening 10 minutes, but who expected Italy to dominate possession at any stage this afternoon? They've had more of the ball than England so far...

Image source, Opta

England just don't look switched on.

Dan Cole - after giving away a penalty at the scrum - wanders mindlessly offside at the line-out and is pinged by Romain Poite.

Italy kick into the England 22m.

Well, well.

The mercury will be rising inside the combustable Eddie Jones.

His England front row are sent into reverse with Andrea Lovotti getting the drop of opposite number Dan Cole.

Some trench warfare just outside the England 22m with Italy making only a few inches each phase, but recycling cleanly enough.

And then Maro Itoje swoops over an isolated tackled man, mantling like an eagle and claiming the ball for himself and England.

Image source, AP

Tommaso Allan gets the kicking responsibilities for Italy, but he shanks his kick to the left of the sticks. 

A let-off for an inaccurate and indisciplined England early on.

Image source, Reuters

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

In competing for the ball, Nathan Hughes lost control of his own body weight and didn't move away.

That's two mistakes already by Hughes.

This crowd are just waiting for the first explosive moment from England.

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

England have already had two overlap opportunities.

Ball in play for extended periods of time has got to favour England.

Nathan Hughes with hooves for hands, knocks on with both his first and second touches of the ball.

He is not putting up a great case to keep Billy Vunipola out of the number eight slot long term.

And now Hughes gives away a penalty for getting off his feet at ruck time.

This is kickable. Up steps Luke McLean as Hughes winces...

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Jones
BBC rugby reporter

View from the 5 live Sport commentary position as the players run out at Twickenham. 

BBC Sport live text in pride of place.

Italy are manning up in defence, coming up fast and hard as per the Brendan Venter model.

Edoardo Padovani's pressure forces George Ford to hurry up at fly-half.

James Haskell gets his head down and thighs pumping and crashes into the blue wall.

Maybe that will sap some of the visitors' enthusiasm.

Owen Farrell drops high into the south London sky and we are up and running.

Lorenzo Mugnai:  I'm sure it'll happen one day. Maybe today? Forza Italia!

Paul Hilferty:  Talking about promotion/relegation from the tournament, have you forgotten that England and Italy did equally well in the WC?

James Arney:  For any football fans watching, That's how you sing a national anthem.

Image source, Getty Images

Owen Farrell trots out in front of the rest of the players to take an ovation on the occasion of his 50th cap.

He looks a little bashful about the whole thing as you might expect.

The Italian anthem - always a difficult one to get your tonsils round as it slides up and down the scales - is belted out by the visitors.

God Save the Queen follows and we are ready for the off.

Image source, Reuters

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

England will want to be as ruthless as Ireland were against Italy today.

They've certainly got the armoury, but whether they've got the mentality is the real test.

Image source, Getty Images

Italy have been forced into a late change with Ornel Gega coming in in place of Leonardo Ghiraldini at hooker.

Conor O'Shea has also brought fly-half Tommaso Allan into their starting line-up as one of four changes to the side beaten heavily by Ireland.

Also included are winger Giulio Bisegni, centre Michele Campagnaro and Braam Steyn at blind-side flanker.

Italy:  15-Edoardo Padovani, 14-Giulio Bisegni, 13-Michele Campagnaro, 12-Luke McLean, 11-Giovanbattista Venditti, 10-Tommaso Allan, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Andrea Lovotti, 2-Ornel Gega, 3-Lorenzo Cittadini, 4-Marco Fuser, 5-Dries van Schalkwyk, 6-Braam Steyn, 7-Simone Favaro, 8-Sergio Parisse (captain)

Replacements:  16-Michele Rizzo, 17-Michele Rizzo, 18-Pietro Ceccarelli, 19-George Biagi, 20-Maxime Mbanda, 21-Giorgio Bronzini, 22-Carlo Canna, 23-Tommaso Benvenuti.

Image source, Getty Images

England's Ben Te'o will make his first international start as he replaces Jonathan Joseph at outside centre.

Jonny May returns on the right wing, Danny Care comes in for Ben Youngs as starting scrum-half and James Haskell is recalled at open-side flanker.

Prop Mako Vunipola is on the bench after returning from a knee injury.

England:  15-Mike Brown, 14-Jonny May, 13-Ben Te'o, 12-Owen Farrell, 11-Elliot Daly, 10-George Ford, 9-Danny Care; 1-Joe Marler, 2-Dylan Hartley (captain), 3-Dan Cole, 4-Joe Launchbury, 5-Courtney Lawes, 6-Maro Itoje, 7-James Haskell, 8-Nathan Hughes.

Replacements:  16-Jamie George, 17-Mako Vunipola, 18-Kyle Sinckler, 19-Tom Wood, 20-Jack Clifford, 21-Ben Youngs, 22-Henry Slade, 23-Jack Nowell