England manager Martin Johnson is preparing to meet muscle with muscle having named a forward-dominated bench for Sunday's RBS Six Nations showdown with Italy.
Johnson is fully aware that Italy's strength lies in their pack and more specifically a high-quality front row that includes Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni.
As such, the England supremo has named a full replacement front row of Steve Thompson, David Wilson and the uncapped Worcester loose-head Matt Mullan for the clash at the Stadio Flaminio - the first time he has done so since taking charge 18 months ago.
Leicester lock Louis Deacon and London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage complete a five-strong forwards contingent amongst the substitutes and Johnson makes no apologies for heading into the game loaded with options up front.
"We have picked an entire front row, which is the right call for this game. We know what we are getting into," he explained.
"We have done a 5-2 split before with two back rowers but never three front row forwards.
"With the way we are going to play the front row is going to have to work very hard so it's good we have the depth.
"Whilst we don't want to go into a game that is solely about close-quarter work, that is a part of it. We shouldn't be afraid of our driving game and pick go and it should be a part of our armoury.
"Against Italy the scrummage is important along with the clear-out work and getting fatigue into the opposition is a key part and that's what we will be trying to exploit."
Wilko backing Flutey
With the England pack aiming to wear down their Italian counterparts to create space, it will then be down to Jonny Wilkinson and Riki Flutey to exploit it by bringing runners into play.
It is certainly an area on which Johnson will want to improve despite last week's 30-17 triumph over Wales and Wilkinson believes Flutely is the ideal man to try and help generate a more expansive game.
Indeed, Wilkinson feels he and the Brive centre can develop the kind of understanding he enjoyed with the likes of Mike Catt and Will Greenwood when England were at the peak of the world game.
"I can see a bit of Catty in him, in terms of his vision of the game, which is very clear," explained the England number 10.
"I see Riki as an out-and-out threat playing at 12 and he talks well too.
"When you are a bit wider in the 12 position you have a bit more time away from where the scrum-half is passing the ball to scan the field and see what is going on.
"The biggest goal this weekend for us is to play with the ball. It is a balance but seeing guys get the ball in the right areas is a key for me."
No excuses
England have encountered a number of setbacks during their preparation for the Italy match with Steve Borthwick and Simon Shaw both struck down by illness and record levels of snow in Rome also complicating matters.
However, Johnson has warned his players that excuses would not be tolerated - and he said that England will only start growing into a force to be reckoned with if they start stringing performances together.
"There was a bit frustration and I told the guys 'you either use it as an excuse to train badly or you just get on with it' and we trained well in the circumstances," continued the England chief.
"There was snow on the ball when it was being passed and on the floor. It's a mental discipline more than anything.
"Attitude when we take the field away from home is a key factor.
"There is potentially an issue after a win of euphoria and getting carried away with yourself - but the mark of a good side is backing up one good performance and a victory with another."
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