Rome carried a different energy that Saturday. The Stadio Olimpico was loud, restless and hopeful, but when the final whistle confirmed Italy’s 23-18 victory, the noise shifted into something deeper. The stadium erupted not in disbelief but in recognition. After thirty two attempts across thirty four years, Italy had finally beaten England, and it felt like a moment earned rather than borrowed.
Tommaso Menoncello had already stamped his mark on the contest, scoring Italy’s first try and later helping create the movement that produced Leonardo Marin’s decisive score. His influence defined much of the match, emblematic of a side no longer shaped by the underdog label.
Around him, the collective reaction was the natural release of years of steady progress. Reports described the night as euphoric, a culmination rather than a coincidence, and the final breaking of Italy’s longest standing Six Nations barrier.
More than a historic win, it looked and sounded like the final confirmation of a journey Italy had been walking toward for years.
PIANGO 🤣🤣🤣#ITAvENG #ITALRUGBY #SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/Z9buB5dhTD
— i rattazzi del 5 a 0 (@AndresCorder0s) March 7, 2026
THE WEIGHT OF AN OLD STORY
For much of their Six Nations history, Italy were treated as if frozen in their early era: brave, spirited, overmatched and occasionally capable of a pleasant surprise. Even as they beat Australia in consecutive November tests, defeated Wales and Scotland, drew with France and recorded their best points return in decades, the wider rugby world still spoke about them with an outdated vocabulary. Upset. Shock. Outlier.
By 2024 and certainly by 2025, the evidence no longer supported that perception. Italy were competitive every season, often winning multiple matches, and their close contests against Ireland and France reflected structure and depth rather than luck. Their rise was consistent rather than sporadic, and by 2026 the idea of banking points against Italy had become untenable.
⌚️ Leonardo Marin scoring the decisive try for Italy to seal his side's first-ever victory over England in a dramatic match at the Stadio Olimpico 🤩#Breitling #DefiningMoment @Breitling pic.twitter.com/FeGh0qWOYk
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 7, 2026
THE QUESADA SHIFT
The arrival of Gonzalo Quesada in 2024 accelerated Italy’s progression. He inherited an ambitious attacking framework from Kieran Crowley but added balance, tactical kicking, improved defensive organisation and a clear plan around the breakdown. Italy became a measured team capable of adapting to territory battles or high tempo passages.
The shift was obvious enough that Fabien Galthie openly acknowledged Italy as a threat, even describing concern about facing Quesada’s side. France’s decision to prepare for Italy in 2025 with an unusually forward loaded bench signalled how seriously they viewed the contest. The respect was earned, and it was rooted in Italy’s ability to disrupt opponents through intensity and structure.
WHERE ITALY'S RISE REALLY BEGAN
Italy’s rise is tied directly to the foundations laid in their national development system. Since the establishment of structured academies in the mid 2000s, Italy have invested in producing players who are not only skilled but test ready. The national under twenty academy in Parma and the regional under eighteen centres created a pipeline that unified coaching standards and professional expectations.
Players such as Danilo Fischetti and Niccolo Cannone have credited these environments for shaping their development. The system emphasises daily training, conditioning, academic discipline and accountability. The result is a generation of forwards and backs who arrive at senior level with physical readiness and tactical understanding.
By 2026 a significant portion of Italy’s starting fifteen and match day squad were academy produced players, reflecting long term planning rather than a temporary peak.
CLUBS THAT GAVE ITALY THEIR SPINE
Improvement at national level coincided with growth in Italy’s professional teams. Benetton became competitive in the United Rugby Championship, recording meaningful wins and developing an identity built on structure and defensive resilience. Zebre played an equally important role by giving emerging players consistent exposure to high intensity rugby.
This had a direct impact on national team cohesion. In key fixtures, including the win over Wales and the contests against Scotland, as many as nine starters came from Benetton. Shared systems, shared combinations and shared habits accelerated Italy’s test performance and gave Quesada a squad that already understood one another’s rhythms before entering camp.
A TEAM BUILT ON BALANCE AND BITE
Modern Italy are defined by balance. Their defence is orderly and connected, their kicking game purposeful, their attack structured but unafraid to play, and their breakdown work relentless. In 2024 they led the Six Nations in defensive ruck arrivals, tackles completed and breakdown steals. This physical commitment became their trademark.
Their forward pack transformed from a historical weakness into a platform for winning matches. Fischetti, Nicotera and Ferrari stabilised the scrum. Zambonin and the Cannone brothers provided athletic presence in the tight exchanges. Lamaro and Zuliani became disruptive forces over the ball.
Behind them Italy have a backline with genuine test quality. Garbisi’s control, Brex’s midfield strength, Menoncello’s line breaking and Ioane’s power have turned isolated threats into a coordinated backline capable of challenging elite defences.
PROGRESS YOU CAN MEASURE
Italy’s development is best understood not through one match but through the accumulation of evidence.
A draw with France in 2024.
Wins over Scotland and Wales in consecutive seasons.
Their best points differential since joining the tournament.
A competitive performance in Dublin.
A victory over Australia in consecutive November tests.
And finally the historic 23-18 victory over England in 2026, sealed through tries by Menoncello and Marin and held through determined defence in the final minutes.
This was not a sporadic surge. It was a three year run that demonstrated consistency, capability and resilience.
WHEN RESPECT STARTED COMING FROM EVERYWHERE
Perhaps the clearest sign of Italy’s arrival came from voices outside Europe. Rassie Erasmus stated he would not be surprised if Italy beat England, noting that when the Italian squad is fully available and confident they are capable of beating top quality opponents. He even acknowledged feeling Italy could have beaten South Africa before.
South African rugby does not hand out compliments freely. Recognition at that level reflects Italy’s transformation from a hopeful presence to a respected opponent.
THIS IS WHAT ARRIVAL LOOKS LIKE
Italy did not become a rugby nation through one dramatic upset. They became a rugby nation by building the systems required to sustain success. The academies, the coaching evolution, the club alignment, the development of depth, the clarity of identity and the accumulating results all point in one direction.
This is no longer the Italy of the early 2000s. This is the Italy of 2026: a rugby nation built patiently, deliberately and properly.