Italy have not beaten England in 20 attempts - dating back to their very first meeting in 1991. But can Jacques Brunel's ever-improving side shock a jam-packed Twickenham on Saturday?

Team news

Unsurprisingly, England head coach Stuart Lancaster has named an unchanged matchday 23 to that which came back to beat Wales in the Six Nations opener in Cardiff last Friday.

Lancaster's counterpart Brunel, meanwhile, has made four changes to the team that was thrashed 26-3 by Ireland in Rome on Saturday.

Marco Bortolami has recovered from a muscular injury that saw him miss his side's opener and will start at in the locks to earn his 111th cap. Club team-mate Mauro Bergamasco will start at flanker to earn his 101st cap, replacing the injured Alessandro Zanni. With Michele Campagnaro out, Andrea Masi shifts to midfield while Luke McLean moves to full-back, allowing Giovambattista Venditti to be promoted from the bench. Sale Sharks prop Alberto De Marchi, benched last weekend, will replace Matias Aguero, who makes the squad.

Elsewhere, Giulio Bisegni is included as a replacement and could make his Italy debut, while Fiji-born flanker Samuela Vunisa, who made his bow for the Azzurri in November, may make his first Six Nations appearance after being named in the squad.

Key head-to-head

When England trounced Italy 52-11 in Rome in March last year - the latest meeting between the sides - Joe Marler was at home holding his new born son. But the Harlequins prop will get his shot at Italy's pack on Saturday and his battle with the enigmatic Martin Castrogiovanni will be a fascinating one. The Twickenham faithful will be expecting a comfortable England win, and Marler subduing Castrogiovanni will go a long way to deciding that.

Key stats

*Italy have never beaten England, with their best result being a four-point defeat which happened on two occasions - 19-15 at the Stadio Olympico in 2012 and 23-19 at the Stadio Flaminio in 2008.

*Italy's away record is not quite as promising. In the eight trips to Twickenham since joining the Six Nations, Italy's points difference is a whopping minus-275.

*The Italians have won only one away game in the history of the Six Nations, against Scotland in 2007.

Odds

Unsurprisingly, England are huge favourites, but you can get a tempting 6/1 with Unibet for Stuart Lancaster's men to win by 12 points or less. If you fancy the mother of all upsets, Italy to win by 12 points or less is 33/1, while a bigger margin of victory for the visitors is way out at 66/1.

Weather

A cloudy but chilly afternoon is expected in south west London on Saturday, with a small chance of rain.

Prediction

England by 15

England have never lost to Italy © Scrum.com

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