Skipper Maro Itoje and flanker Sam Underhill were yellow-carded in a second half which see-sawed but eventually saw England chuck away an 18-10 lead. This collapse can be filed alongside the last two – against Scotland and Ireland – and a year-and-a-half from the World Cup, England look shot.

Around 30,000 England fans were in Rome but they saw a defeat that will rank alongside any of the worst of any era from their side.

And captain Itoje told his side they have got to take responsibility for the shambles and get back on the horse ahead of a trip to France next Saturday.

Itoje said: “It’s obviously disappointing. It’s on us as players. We have to wear the performance. This team over the last year has put in good performances. We haven’t recently. We have to face that and get back to work.

“We have to figure it out. If we knew why we wouldn’t be in this position. Teams go through tough periods. We’re in a tough period now.

“We’re in a results-based business and we have to own the result. As captain I take responsibility for that.”

Itoje was outcaptained by the brilliant Italian leader, flanker and talisman Michele Lamaro, who was cook-a-hoop with his history makers.

He said: “When they got those two yellow cards we managed to get over the line. We fought together as always and that was the most important thing.

“There are two main turning points. One in the first half when they scored their try. We stuck together when they got momentum and we were a wall. And straight after that we scored after that and the second yellow card.”