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Use the podcasts button on the BBC Sounds app to find 'All Day Rugby', a daily curated playlist keeping you up to date with the latest analysis, reaction and chat from the Six Nations.

The perfect rugby fix in-between matches.

The link is here.

JMOC: I think Fin Smith is the long-term future at 10 for England. He has a more rounded game than Marcus, better suited to Test match rugby. I admire Marcus a lot for Quins, but at the very top table I think the lack of time and space means he will not be able to operate as he does at club level. Fin's game is better aligned to the international game, and playing with his club number nine could be a huge advantage.

TBS: Mitchell, Fin Smith and Dingwall not a bad set-up given they know each other so well. All good options at 13 and wing so could turn out to be a piece of luck for Borthwick having his hand forced?

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Number eight Ben Earl says he is looking forward to building a strong relationship in the back row with debutant Ethan Roots.

The New Zealand native joined Exeter Chiefs this season and has impressed to earn his first cap aged 26.

"Ethan is a really mature guy. He has not played a huge amount of rugby in his time, but he has trained really well and his intensity is brilliant," Earl told BBC Sport.

"He has got the excitement of playing for England for the first time. The excitement of that, with the combination of having played in three different countries - it is perfect.

"The nuts and bolts of the back row complement each other really well.

"I am really looking forward to taking the field with him and developing that relationship over the campaign."

Tickets have sold fast for this one.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Uncapped fly-half Fin Smith is "100% ready" for international rugby, says ex-England flanker Matt Kvesic, his former Worcester Warriors team-mate.

Smith, 21, could make his England debut after being named on the bench.

The Northampton Saints fly-half deputises for George Ford in Rome, with Marcus Smith ruled out by injury.

"It is just the perfect time to get him game time," Kvesic told BBC Sport.

"He is 100% ready for it and someone who I think over the next few years could be a really good player for England and a staple of the team.

"Fin needs the opportunity at international rugby. He is one of those players - and it sounds silly - but international rugby will almost suit him more."

Read more here.

Fly-half Fin Smith is one of five uncapped players in the matchday 23 and should all of them get time on the field, it will be the highest number of new caps awarded in a single match since Stuart Lancaster's first game in charge in 2012.

How many of those five players can you name? Funny that Lancaster has that record….

That is my one and only clue.

Get your answers in!

Ethan Roots and Fraser Dingwall will make their England debuts in Rome.

Dingwall, 24, is named at inside centre alongside the returning Henry Slade and Roots will start at blind-side flanker.

George Ford starts at fly-half with Marcus Smith ruled out for at least two matches with a calf injury.

Uncapped trio Chandler Cunningham-South, Fin Smith and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso have been named on the bench.

A late change to the bench sees Beno Obano replace Ellis Genge. This is different injury for Genge, who had a hamstring injury ahead of the tournament.

England: Steward; Freeman, Slade, Dingwall, Daly; Ford, Mitchell; Marler, George (capt), Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, Roots, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Obano, Cole, Coles, Cunningham-South, Care, F Smith, Feyi-Waboso.

With France losing a rare Six Nations game, the door has been opened for a new challenger. England have not won their opening game of the Six Nations since 2019.

Italy have won two games over the last decade in the competition. Surely it is the perfect opener?

After a third-place finish at the World Cup hopes are high for Steve Borthwick's side.

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Ashton
Former England wing on the Rugby Union Daily podcast

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On France lock Paul Willemse's red card...

We have probably not given it enough attention and the impact it had on the French team.

But before it happened, the way France were operating on the pitch they didn't seem to have any control like we are used to seeing from them.

The real lack of energy in the team, which may have come from a massive build-up of the World Cup, they didn't get that right.

Listen to the latest Rugby Union Daily podcast here.

BBC Sounds

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With the Six Nations getting under way in Marseille on Friday the Rugby Union Daily podcast is back with a bang!

Former Ireland wing Tommy Bowe joins BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones to discuss Ireland's winning start.

Bowe said: "It was all Ireland from the first minute of the game - they were absolutely magnificent.

"Two teams suffering from a heartbreak since the Rugby World Cup.

"France looked like they have not recovered and it looked like Ireland wish they were back in the quarter-finals. It actually breaks my heart that Ireland can still pull out performances like that."

Listen to the Rugby Union Daily podcast here.

Ireland won the Grand Slam in 2023. France won the Grand Slam in 2022. Both sides have only lost to each other in those campaigns.

Simply, it has been a two-horse race.

Does that victory mean Andy Farrell's side will go on to be the first side in the Six Nations to win back-to-back Grand Slams?

Form and history would say yes. But rugby is a funny game.

Watch highlights as Ireland record their biggest ever away win in France, beating the 14-man home side 38-17, to begin the defence of their Six Nations crown.

Image source, Getty Images

Here we go!

England are back in the Six Nations and are in Rome to face Italy.

It is the second game after an epic encounter between France and Ireland in Marseille on Friday.

Six weeks of elite rugby is under way. Buckle up as Steve Borthwick's England will want to make an early statement.

Or will Italy pull out a rare win?