England conclude their Lloyds TSB Six Nations campaign in Rome on Sunday, with Clive Woodward admitting: "We are not quite where we were 12 months ago."

English hopes of a successful Six Nations title defence depend on them beating tournament whipping boys Italy, while also requiring an Irish victory over championship leaders and favourites France in Paris on Saturday.

"We are not quite where we were 12 months ago, but 12 months ago people had not heard of players like Ben Kay, Steve Thompson, Charlie Hodgson and Lewis Moody," Woodward said.

"There are some big things around the corner, and I believe that in 12 months there will be three or four names we have not heard of now on the teamsheet."

Of this weekend's challenge of Italy the England supremo added, "Italy are a far more serious threat in Rome than they are when they play away," he added.

"Any team that plays in Rome knows that they have been in a game, and we will have to be at our best.

"I have picked the strongest team, players who know how to handle themselves in pressure situations.

"Obviously, I hope that Ireland win in France, but we will play the game on Sunday no differently, no matter what the outcome 24 hours earlier."

Sunday's clash is widely expected to be the last in charge for beleaguered Italy coach Brad Johnstone.

New Zealander Johnstone has come under increasing pressure as a result of Italy's failure to make any kind of Six Nations impact, and if England click into top gear, then it promises to be a cricket score.

The Italians at least managed one of their better efforts in defeat against Ireland last time out, but a combination of their poor discipline and England's superiority in all departments threatens a mismatch.

"It will be a very hard game. We are the underdogs, but I don't want to say that we have lost before the kick-off," said flanker Mauro Bergamasco, one of Italy's few world-class operators.

"My aim is to compete with England for the entire 80 minutes, and I don't want to worry too much about the result.

"We have worked hard to find the right balance to try and play at England's level, but we must go on the pitch and say it is only 15 versus 15.

"I haven't had many opportunities to watch England this year. They seemed to have problems in some parts of the match against France, but it was completely different when they played Wales.

"But as far as we are concerned, everyone involved is expecting us to improve after the Ireland game."

The anticipated invasion of some 16,000 English fans should expect something similar this time around.

In the last three meetings between the countries, England have rattled up a total of more than 200 points at an average of 68 a time.