On four previous visits to the Eternal City, England have racked up a total of 185 points, conceded just 46 and returned home victorious each time.

Suddenly, though, this particular encounter at the Stadio Flaminio has banana skin written all over it.

England could hardly have made a worse start to their RBS 6 Nations campaign, crashing 26-19 at home to Wales last weekend and losing five players - Mike Tindall (bruised liver), Andrew Sheridan (infection), David Strettle (foot), Lewis Moody (Achilles) and Tom Rees (knee ligament) - for the Italian job.

There was also a worryingly-poor performance from fly-half superstar Jonny Wilkinson for head coach Brian Ashton to ponder, although Wilkinson has retained his place in a side that sees first RBS 6 Nations starts for wing Lesley Vainikolo and flanker Michael Lipman.

Italy, it must be said, will fancy their chances. They pushed Ireland all the way in Dublin last weekend, and coach Nick Mallett fields the same pack on Sunday, promising England's forwards a punishing afternoon at the office.

The chances are that Italy will at least gain parity up-front, but can their backs make maximum use of possession?

England, surely, cannot be as bad as they were in the second-half against Wales - Ashton's men conceded 20 unanswered points in barely 15 minutes - but the Azzurri will not allow them anything. It promises to be a fascinating encounter.