But any type of win wont detract from what has been a thoroughly miserable Six Nations experience for new coach Andy Robinson and his players.

Defeats at the hands of Wales, France and Ireland consigned England to the worst Six Nations campaign in their history, and they havent lost four championship games during one season since 1976.

The Twickenham faithful will expect Robinsons men to rack up tries against an Italian side who are odds-on favourites for the woooden spoon, given that their last two games are against England and France.

But whatever England achieve this weekend, the tournament has proved a failure from their perspective.

All the world champions can do now, with new skipper Martin Corry at the helm, is finish the competition by recording emphatic wins against Italy and Scotland, then the planning can begin in earnest for next autumns appointments with New Zealand, Australia and Samoa.

Robinson has recalled Leeds full-back Iain Balshaw for his first international start since March last year, replacing injured captain Jason Robinson, who is sidelined for a month while he recovers from thumb surgery.

Balshaws return apart though, Andy Robinson has retained the starting line-up and replacements on duty when England lost 19-13 to Grand Slam-chasing Ireland in Dublin last time out.

Italy promised much in their opening Six Nations game against Ireland, but they were blown away by Wales and then lost a sub-standard clash at Murrayfield, when Scotlands narrow victory probably consigned John Kirwans team to last place.

The Italians, who have never beaten England, will arrive at Twickenham ready to offer a considerable physical challenge up-front, but the home sides superior pace behind should underpin an emphatic success.

It wont though, mask the under-achieving nature of what has has been a season England would prefer to forget.

England:

I Balshaw (Leeds); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), J Noon (Newcastle), O Barkley (Bath), J Lewsey (Wasps); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), H Ellis (Leicester); G Rowntree (Leicester), S Thompson (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt).

Replacements: A Titterrell (Sale Sharks), D Bell (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), A Hazell (Gloucester), M Dawson (Wasps), A Goode (Leicester), O Smith (Leicester).

Italy:

G Peens (LAquila); R Pedrazzi (Viadana), M Barbini (Padova), A Masi (Viadana), L Nitoglia (Calvisano); L Orquera (Padova), A Troncon (Treviso); A Lo Cicero (L'Aquila), F Ongaro (Treviso), S Perugini (Calvisano), CA Del Fava (Rugby Parma), M Bortolami (Narbonne, capt), A Persico (Agen), D dal Maso (Treviso), S Parisse (Treviso).

Replacements: G Intoppa (Calvisano), M Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), M Savi (Viadana), S Dellape (Agen), S Orlando (Treviso), P Griffen (Calvisano), W Pozzebon (Treviso).