Elliot Daly names Italy's biggest threat ahead of Six Nations clash

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Italy sense an opportunity to end a 32 match losing streak against England, while the visitors arrive under pressure after successive defeats to Ireland and Scotland.

England were well beaten 42-21 by Ireland at the Allianz Stadium, a week after falling short at Murrayfield. In response, Borthwick has made nine changes, the biggest shake up of his Six Nations tenure. Daly, now 33 and a veteran of three British and Irish Lions tours, is one of the figures tasked with restoring composure to a backline that has misfired.

Daly’s England journey has been eventful. He scored his first international try on the wing in a 58-15 win over Fiji at Twickenham in November 2016. A week later he became the first England back to be sent off at Twickenham after a high tackle on Argentina’s Leonardo Senatore, receiving a red card and a three week ban. Despite playing most of the match a man down, England still won.

He was central to England’s 2017 Six Nations campaign, landing a long range penalty against France and famously scoring a late try to beat Wales in Cardiff. He added another try against Italy that year. In 2019 he featured at fullback and scored in a statement win over Ireland in Dublin. More recently, he made a decisive impact off the bench against France in the 2025 championship, crossing in the 79th minute to secure a 26-25 victory.

His recall this year is less about nostalgia and more about reliability. Asked whether the large scale changes were a warning to the squad, Daly dismissed the idea.

“No, I just think it is one of those…the way that Steve has set up this team, you can be called in at any moment and you need to perform. We understand that as a team that has not played for two or three weeks, we understand we will get our shot at some point. It has come this weekend and we looking forward to it. We have got a squad of 32 people and we need to all be ready to go when needed.”

A major concern has been discipline. England have received three yellow cards and a 20-minute red in the last two rounds and Daly knows that must change.

“Discipline is massive in the game now, due to territory and all the stuff of having line outs in your half and all that kind of stuff. We had a chat about it, we have been a pretty disciplined team up to the last two games and maybe it was a little bit of overtrying, trying to help the team too much but the more the games on, the less penalties you give away, the less they are in your half the more likely you are to go on and win the game.

“It is something that has been good over the last year and it is something that is going to have to be good this weekend.”

Italy’s strengths are clear in Daly’s mind.

"Breakdown. They've been all over the breakdown. Zuliani been unreal this year. Their whole pack and their scrum has definitely been a force in the Six Nations. I think they've got Brex back this weekend and the way that he is with Menocello, is a massive thing as well. If you watch them, they kick the ball a lot but in the right areas.

"But they do run from deep as well. So it's something we have to look at. But they've got some exciting players and some guys that can slow the ball down in the middle there. We've got to make sure we're tip top on the breakdown."

For Daly, preparation does not change regardless of the enhanced reputation of Italy compared to previous years.

"No, yeah, it definitely doesn't change in a Six Nations game mindset. I think whoever plays, whatever opposition we're playing, we need to want to win, want to put our best foot forward, really. So it doesn't really change in that, for me. Definitely not. But we understand that they've got some world-class players and if we give them time and space then they're going to take the chances."

Part of his role now is guiding less experienced teammates such as Seb Atkinson, who makes his first start in the Six Nations this weekend.

"Yes 100 per cent. I think that's the senior guys' roles and the guys around them to let him know why he's in the team and what he brings to the team.

"I think you can get caught up in these games and, as you said, try a bit too hard. But I think, hopefully, we put him in a position this Saturday where he can just do what he's been doing for Gloucester all year and for England in the summer and show what he's about and put his best foot forward.

"I think that comes down to us a little bit, the guys that have been there and done it. But also it's just filling him with the confidence of what he's done in the week is exactly what we need and we don't need any more than that from him."