It was billed as must‑win. After sobering defeats to Scotland and Ireland, England and head coach Steve Borthwick could ill afford another setback.
Yet on a seismic Saturday of Six Nations rugby, Italy delivered exactly that, producing a result that was once unthinkable.
Wholesale changes were made to the England team in the wake of the 42-21 defeat to Ireland, but when Borthwick needed a response, his squad hit rock bottom in Rome.
A first‑ever defeat to the Azzurri in 33 international matches - and a third loss in this year's championship - has left England staring at their worst Six Nations finish.
Things could yet get worse. A miserable campaign concludes against title‑chasing France in Paris, a chilling prospect for Borthwick, whose position is now as precarious as it has ever been.
"[The conversation about Borthwick's future] has to start now," former England international Ugo Monye said.
"You look at the last couple of weeks. He gave faith to players before the loss to Ireland - then he rang a load of changes, and that didn't work.
"You look at the teams in the Six Nations. France are top. Scotland are getting better. Italy are getting better. Wales are getting better. England are on the slide.
"How do you arrest it? It's only ever one of two things: the players or the coach. At the moment, I don't think the potential of the players is being met by the vision of the coach."
Borthwick has seen the progress of a year‑long, 12‑Test winning streak erased in the blink of an eye. His tenure could follow suit if England fail to halt France's title charge in Paris - a possibility as remarkable as England's demise.
As England's misery increases so does Italy's chance of finishing outside the bottom two positions for the first since time since 2013, and for only the third time since they joined the Six Nations in 2000.
A win over Wales, or England failing to beat France (you could argue both of those look likely) will secure that for the Azzurri, who are now a ferocious opponent for anyone.
Wing Louis Lynagh credited the tournament-opening win over Scotland in a rain-soaked Rome as crucial in making his side believe they were capable of results like the victory over England, a triumph they were good value for.
Yes, England were down to 13 for a stage after two sin-binnings but Italy were skilful in attack - centre Tommaso Menoncello was involved in a dazzling duo of tries - and resolute in defence, with Lynagh hailing players possessing a touch of "stardust".
Head coach Gonzalo Quesada built his reputation working in French rugby and aspects of that have been taken into Italy's style of play, revealed Lynagh.
Italy are not yet at France's level, but their upward trajectory continues.
Twelve tries. Ninety points. A brilliantly bonkers game of rugby that only the Six Nations seems capable of producing.
Before the drama unfolded in Rome, a perfect day for Scottish rugby had already begun in scintillating fashion with one of the great Murrayfield performances.
Scotland ran riot, scoring seven tries in a 50-40 dismantling of France that shattered their Grand Slam hopes and set up a final‑round thriller in the title race.
Les Bleus arrived in Edinburgh knowing a bonus‑point win would have secured a second consecutive championship with a game to spare.
They left having conceded 50 points for the first time in more than a decade - and for the first time ever against Scotland - with a late flurry of tries merely masking the hiding they had been given.
Gregor Townsend stopped short of labelling it the best performance of his tenure, but a third straight win after their opening‑round loss to Italy, delivered with such devastating flair, once again showed how dangerous Scotland are when everything clicks.
Two shock results on an action-packed day of rugby has had mammoth implications at the top and the bottom of the Six Nations table.
Let's start with the title race. Scotland's seven-try bonus-point victory over leaders France means the two sides are only separated by points difference.
Despite losing, Les Bleus picked up an invaluable bonus point of their own, allowing them to decide the title at the Stade de France against England on Saturday. The equation is simple: if France win, they retain the Six Nations.
Scotland, on the other hand, are in the mix to win their first title in the competition's 26-year history - an outcome that any fan would have found hard to foresee after their opening-round 18-15 defeat to Italy.
Townsend's side face round-five trip to Dublin to face an in-form Ireland who are two points off top and still very much in the title race, though Andy Farrell's men would have to beat Scotland and better France's result.
While out of title contention, England have more than pride to play for. Should basement side Wales secure a bonus-point win against Italy, aa heavy defeat to France could see Borthwick's men could pick up the wooden spoon for the first time.
With one match left and everything still to fight for, the Six Nations is poised for a breath-taking final act.
