Summary

  • England score five tries to secure bonus-point win and go top of the standings

  • But Ireland can win title without bonus-point if they beat France by seven points or more

  • France can claim the title with a bonus-point victory and a winning margin of 32

  • Scrum-half Ben Youngs scores two tries as he celebrates 100th England cap

  • Jamie George try on his 50th cap, Tom Curry and Henry Slade score in second half

  • Jake Polledri scores in corner as hosts restrict England to 10-5 half-time lead

  1. Goodbye!published at 19:25 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    Owen Farrell and Tom Curry celebrate England's win over ItalyImage source, Getty Images

    Right then, time for me to say ta-ra.

    Head over to this page to read/watch/listen (perhaps all three?) how Ireland get on in France.

    Suppose you've got nothing better to do tonight have you? :p

    DO. NOT. MISS. IT.

    (You can catch up with Strictly on the iPlayer...)

  2. As it standspublished at 19:22 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Here is a final reminder of how the Six Nations table stands and how England can be denied their first triumph since 2017...

    .Image source, .

    In simple terms it means Ireland will clinch the title with a bonus-point win or if they don't score four tries but still win by seven points or more.

    France's chances are slim. They need a bonus-point win AND a winning margin of 32 points or more.

  3. 'Youngs is a credit to the sport'published at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    To get player of the match and scores two tries, Ben Youngs, as he always does, looked very assured.

    It would be nice to see Ben spark up a bit and not just be the match manager on the pitch so it was great to see his first try. That's why he got his first try in 2010.

    His face is going to be lit up for a long, long time. I can't say enough for Ben Youngs, he is a credit to the sport, his family and the people he inspires. He's a great fillet for the nation.

  4. Postpublished at 19:17 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    Dare I ask why Ben Youngs is nicknamed Lenny? :/

  5. 'An incredible achievement'published at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Former England captain Chris Robshaw is among the players who have hailed Ben Youngs' achievement of becoming only the second man to win 100 caps for the Red Rose.

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  6. 'I'm very proud but glad I performed for the team'published at 19:14 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    England scrum-half Ben Youngs, who won his 100th international cap tonight, talking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I didn't want to build it up too much in the week, I just wanted to focus on the process of playing, that was the most important thing for us. I'll certainly reflect on it now with the boys and try and absorb what the achievement is. I'm very proud but the most important thing for me was to perform for the team.

    "I've got to keep going. It's a nice milestone but I've got the desire to kick on and with all these young caps coming in it's an exciting time."

    Was the kicking tactic overused? "We spoke about it before, we knew it was going to a grinding down process. We were camped on our line for a long time in that second 20 of the first half, we couldn't quite get out and maybe we couldn't shake that yellow card off.

    "But whatever it would be, we knew if we stuck to it we'd get there in the end and the most important thing is that we did."

  7. Postpublished at 19:12 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Back in Rome, Ben Youngs will be a happy man tonight. Two tries and man of the match on his 100th cap.

    Of course, he will only be very happy if the result in Paris goes the way of his team.

    Here is what the England scrum-half had to say after the victory in Rome...

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    #bbcrugby

    Alastair McCollum: It's still a massive task, but that #ITAvENG result has just made the Irish job in Paris a little more doable. It's time to believe for Ireland.

  9. 'Tall ask for Ireland to get bonus point'published at 19:08 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    France v Ireland (20:05 GMT)

    France have increased their steel and become harder to beat this year, largely thanks to the appointment of Englishman Shaun Edwards as their defence coach.

    "The big factor coming into this, and we've seen the step change, is Shaun Edwards and the defensive system he has put in place," ex-Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip on the BBC's Rugby Union Podcast. added on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

    "It is aggressive and one of the most dominant in the Six Nations.

    "France have the ability to score, they are not getting as many entry points in the 22 as Ireland but they are scoring more points every time they are in there.

    "Can Ireland get the win? Yes. Can they get the bonus point? It is a tall ask."

  10. 'Question marks over Ireland's attack'published at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    France v Ireland (20:05 GMT)

    After England earned their anticipated bonus-point win in Rome, that leaves both Ireland - probably - and France - definitely - needing the same to stand any chance of overhauling Eddie Jones' side.

    Ireland are aiming for a fourth Six Nations title in seven years but it is the French who are more likely to score four tries, according to former England back Ugo Monye.

    "Ireland can defend really well but I've had question marks over their attacking game for years," said Monye.

    "If they are going to be a force of nature like they were in 2018, and to become a world leader, their attacking game is the one thing which needs to get so much better."

  11. 'I can't see Ireland winning'published at 19:02 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I can't see Ireland winning. I want to be loyal to the home nations but I can't see them getting on top of France in a way that will mean they can sneak through a tight encounter.

  12. Postpublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Thirty-odd Neapolitan pizzas and several crates of Moretti?

    I'd love to see how the England team are watching tonight's match.

    (Other Italian lagers are available, of course.)

  13. No idea what will happen in Paris - Farrellpublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    England captain Owen Farrell, speaking to ITV, on what will happen in Paris: "I don't know, I've no idea. It is a tough game tonight. We've done our job really and we will wait and see."

    On his side's performance: "We started the game well, I thought we went at them, obviously a large chunk of that first half where we didn't manage to get our hands on the ball and manage to put our game on the field.

    "But that is what international rugby is like. We talked at half-time, came out and did a job in the second half."

    Has he spoken to his dad and Ireland coach Andy? "No, not about the game. We (England) will sit down and celebrate the win and the achievements of a few of the boys. We will sit down and watch the game."

  14. Postpublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC 5 Radio Live

    If you look at the weather forecast there's a decent chance of some rain around kick-off in Paris so that might affect the game.

    I don't think France, with the journey they are on, are too bothered about winning the Championship. The team they are building are looking towards the 2023 World Cup.

    It's going to be really difficult for Ireland to get what they want tonight.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:52 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    #bbcrugby

    Andrew Priestley: The late Italian try that Ireland allowed last week could be their undoing if it comes down to being a narrow victory in Paris.

  16. Have England done enough to win title?published at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think England are set to win the Championship. France will probably just about have enough to beat Ireland.

    You do have to think about the mindset though because France are really going to have to chase it which might open it up for Ireland.

  17. Postpublished at 18:47 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent on BBC 5 Radio Live

    England are just about favourites now but they could have ultimately taken it out of Ireland's hands.

  18. As it standspublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    Job done for England. So here is the table...

    .Image source, .

    In simple terms it means Ireland will clinch the title with a bonus-point win or if they don't score four tries but still win by seven points or more.

    France's chances are slim. They need a bonus-point win AND a winning margin of 32 points or more.

  19. Postpublished at 18:43 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    FT: Italy 5-34 England

    As expected, England have done their side of the bargain. Steady, if not spectacular, but they have their bonus-point win.

    That heaps the pressure onto Ireland now. They know exactly what they have to do to be crowned Six Nations champions for the fourth time in seven years...

  20. Full-timepublished at 18:41 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2020

    Italy 5-34 England

    England are patiently probing, Billy Vunipola eating up the yards as he drives again.

    Can they nab another late try? Oh, doesn't look like it... think Will Stuart has been penalised in the ruck.

    Yes, he has. That's the full-time whistle. Job done for England...