The Azzurri broken new ground last year when they racked up their maiden victory over France in the Championship and they have arguably never had a better chance to break their duck against England.

Facing a new-look English side still finding their way under Stuart Lancaster, Italy will be roared on by a huge home support at the Stadio Olimpico and it is an opportunity Castrogiovanni is desperate to seize.

"We are at home in front of 75,000 and such a crowd will give us great energy to play. As Latin people we are very proud of that,” he said.  

"But to win against England we have to play the perfect game and we cannot make too many mistakes, like we did against France last weekend.

"A lot of people think we have the opportunity to win but it's going to be a tough game, one of the most physical games to play because England have a massive big pack of forwards.

"England put a lot of pressure on at the scrum. They will attack us where we are strongest and we need to be prepared for them.

"If we are to win then we need to play the perfect game."

Italy lost 30-12 to France last weekend but showed enough to suggest new head coach Jacques Brunel’s influence and the evolution of the club game is paying off since the incorporation of Treviso and Aironi into the Celtic League.

"Italian rugby has changed. It has gone up a big level with two clubs playing in the Celtic League

"It used to be a big game against Treviso or Calvisano. Now you play against Munster, Scarlets which makes every game a big game.

"Jacques Brunel has asked us to attack a little bit more. You saw that in the first 40 minutes against France. We are now trying to kick the ball less and not to be so conservative.

"This will take time to change but I think it's a good thing."

The scrum could well be a decisive area in the match and there is added subtext to the match-up with Castrogiovanni and opposite number Dan Cole fighting for the same No. 3 shirt at Leicester Tigers.

"Dan is still young. I know he looks like he's 45 but he's still very young for a prop," Castrogiovanni said.

"He's got a very good future and will get better and better.

"People say we can't stay at the same club but I think it's good for him and good for me to be in the same team because it keeps us at a good level and we try to raise our level every weekend."