England ready for big victory

England's Six Nations clash with Italy tomorrow morning is not expected to be much of a contest, but Twickenham could still witness rugby history.

England, who opened their campaign with a six-try destruction of Wales in Cardiff, are the hottest favourites for a championship game at 150-1 on to win.

But a capacity crowd of 75,000 may get a chance to see former Britain and Wigan rugby league winger Jason Robinson make history by becoming the first English player to switch from league to union and win caps at both codes.

Robinson, one of the most dangerous runners in rugby league, switched to union only this season and will start on the bench.

It is thanks to England's new entertaining back play that a capacity crowd will watch the match. Twickenham is sold out for the first time for a game between the countries.

But there is little point betting on an England win. Because of tax, punters would end up owing bookmakers money to back England unless they used a tax-free internet site.

Italy, who were beaten by Ireland, 41-22, in their opening clash in Rome, are 25-1 to win the game with a draw a 50-1 shot.

England, who have never lost to Italy, had their biggest win against them in a 67-7 triumph at Twickenham at the 1999 World Cup.

If the England backs produce the same kind of flowing rugby they did in Cardiff, that record is almost certainly to be broken, especially since Italy will be without key first five-eighths and goalkicker Diego Dominguez and halfback Alessandro Troncon.

Argentinian-born Dominguez, top points scorer in Italian history and the inspiration behind last season's defeat of Scotland, has failed to recover from a groin strain. Troncon was handed a 21-day ban last week for punching Ireland halfback Peter Stringer on the opening day of the tournament.

However, England captain Martin Johnson said in the pre-match ritual of talking the opposition up that he was expecting a physical encounter.

"Italy are coming here as underdogs and they will try to impose themselves physically," the 1997 British Lions captain said. "They've got strong players and if you can dominate physically it gives you a big advantage."

The game will also hold special meaning for centre Mike Catt, who earns his 50th cap after playing in almost every position in the backline for England.

Motivation will not be a problem in the dressing rooms before Scotland's clash with Wales at Murrayfield tomorrow morning.

Both teams have points to prove after losing on the opening day of the championship. The Scots were beaten 16-6 by France in Paris, while Wales were handed a demoralising 44-15 defeat by England in Cardiff.

Wales coach Graham Henry has faced criticism for his conservative selection policy after keeping faith with most of the players who were handed a sobering lesson by the English.

But captain David Young said: "I'm sure if we can put in a performance at Murrayfield the same people that have been criticising us will be tapping us on the back. It's part of the deal.

"If there were options to bring into the team, most of the boys would applaud that. But there were throwaway statements calling for panic changes just because we had a lost a game."

Henry has made just two changes to the team which began the Cardiff game. Winger Mark Jones will make his first start in an international in place of Gareth Thomas, while lock Andy Moore replaces Chris Wyatt.

For Scotland this match will be about moving on from their Paris performance. Scotland came desperately close to upsetting France but failed to take their chances.

Coach Ian McGeechan has made just one enforced change to his line-up, bringing in Duncan Hodge at first five-eighths in place of the injured Gregor Townsend.

"We created a number of scoring opportunities but we did not finish them off," McGeechan said. "We could have won that game. But in fairness France are very good at defending."

Revitalised Ireland are the coming force in Northern Hemisphere rugby, and tomorrow in Dublin they can reinforce this impression by beating an inconsistent France for the second successive year.

This may appear a classic piece of Irish logic as the boys in green have not beaten their opponents in Dublin since 1983 - a draw being the only solace in 1985.

But having overcome one jinx, by winning in Paris last season for the first time since 1972, they are raring to ditch another one.

Certainly Kiwi Warren Gatland, whose alliance with backs coach Eddie O'Sullivan has created the most exciting backline since the days of Brendan Mullin and Ollie Campbell in the early 1980s, has managed to rid the Irish of their inferiority complex.

No one exemplifies that new attitude more than outstanding centre Brian O'Driscoll, who was the architect of the French defeat last year with a hat-trick of tries.

He for one believes France are in for a hiding.

Six Nations points table