All eyes are on Jonny Wilkinson before tomorrow's Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham, but Scotland were warned yesterday not to forget about the debutant at his elbow.
According to two former rugby league colleagues, Andy Farrell, who led Wigan and Great Britain before switching codes, will make a huge difference to England's back line and any Scot who expects him to be a weak link is seriously mistaken.
Mike Ford, the former Wigan rugby league scrumhalf who is now England's defence coach, said: "He's one of those guys who can perform at any level and he'll handle it easily. I know he's not played many games but he's been outstanding in the Premiership, not least against Leicester at Welford Road. He'll produce that form against Scotland."
The England management have been impressed by the former Man of Steel's impact in training and believe Scotland will be wasting their energy if they try to target him defensively. "If they want to attack that channel, great. It's good news for us," said Ford.
"I hope no-one's expecting him to score 60-yard tries, because that's not his game, but he'll add a lot of subtleties to our game that we didn't have in the autumn. His size and defensive qualities are also massive boosts."
Another former team-mate, the Leeds Tykes coach Daryl Powell, also advises the Scots to look for weaknesses elsewhere in their attempt to secure a first win at Twickenham since 1983. "Andy makes decisions exceptionally well under extreme pressure."
The Scotland coach, Frank Hadden, would have derived even less comfort from listening to the new England captain, Phil Vickery. Despite some injury disruption - Lewis Moody's damaged shoulder has forced a bench call-up for the Wasps flanker Tom Rees, and Iain Balshaw's sore groin still makes him a doubtful starter at fullback - there is no hiding the renewed sense of purpose among England's forwards.
The new head coach, Brian Ashton, has already demanded a "no bullshit" style of rugby in response to eight defeats in their past nine Tests and Vickery is more than happy to oblige. "I'm excited by our pack of forwards. We've got the makings of a very good pack but we've got to perform. As well as blood and guts we want to put a few passages of play together. I'll be telling the players to go out and show what they are made of."
Italy coach Pierre Berbizier will start Salvatore Perugini at prop instead of Andrea Lo Cicero for Saturday's opener against France.
Lo Cicero had impressed in the autumn Tests while Toulouse star Perugini served a five-week ban for a headbutting incident in a Heineken European Cup game against Ulster last October.
But Berbizier has preferred the experience of the 28-year-old who shone in the pack for the Azzurri in last year's Six Nations campaign.
Berbizier has also named Ramiro Pez as a replacement, and opted to pair 33-year-old Andrea Scanavacca at half-back with Paul Griffen. Former captain Alessandro Troncon had a surprise recall to the party after two years not playing for the national team and has been named as a replacement.
ITALYv France: Marigny; Dallan, Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Masi; Scanavacca; Griffen; Perugini, Ongaro, Nieto, Dellape, Bortolami (capt), Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse. Replacements: Festuccia, Lo Cicero, Castrogiovanni, Mandelli, Troncon, Pez, Robertson.
