Admitting it is important his team get off to a good start, England Under-18 coach Alex Sanderson said: "We have come here with the mind-set and goal to win every game but at the moment all our focus is on playing Italy. We know a little about our opponents.

"They were recently beaten by France but they ran them close. We know that they have a big, physical pack and we expect them to be as passionate as every Italian team."

Italy's squad includes players who recently competed in the FIRA-AER Under-18 European championship so they go into thos game with plenty of experience. They are expected to be tough up front and to pose a big physical threat.

ENGLAND UNDER-18 TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Italy, 2008 Under-18 Six Nations Festival, Temple Hill, Wednesday, March 26, kick-off 5pm):

15 - Jack Wallace (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)

14 - Christian Wade (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)

13 - Tom Casson (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks) (capt)

12 - Tom Homer (Milton Abbey & London Irish)

11 - Sam Smith (Cranleigh & Harlequins)

10 - Freddie Burns (Bath College & Bath Rugby)

9 - Sam Harrison (John Cleveland College & Leicester Tigers)

1 - Lee Imiolek (Myerscough College & Sale Sharks)

2 - David Blackwell (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)

3 - James Currie (Millfield & Bath Rugby)

4 - Joe Quinn (St. Wilfred's School & Leeds Carnegie)

5 - James Gaskell (Sandbach & Sale Sharks)

6 - Jacob Rowan (Bradford GS & Leeds Carnegie)

7 - Joe Barker (QEGS Wakefield & Leeds Carnegie)

8 - Rob Milligan (Rugby School & Northampton Saints)

Replacements:

16 - Joe Marler (Richmond College & Harlequins)

17 - Jamie George (Haileybury & Saracens)

18 - Mako Vunipola (Millfield & Bristol Rugby)

19 - Tom Holmes (Sandbach & Sale Sharks)

20 - Joe Trayfoot (Epsom College & Harlequins)

21 - Alex Gray (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)

22 - Jordi Pasqualin (The King's School Gloucs & Gloucester Rugby)

23 - Rory Clegg (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)

24 - Will Hurrell (Wyggeston & QE1 Coll Leicester Tigers)

25 - Andy Forsyth (QEGS Wakefield & Leicester Tigers)

26 - Tom Catterick (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)

ITALY TEAM & REPLACEMENTS:

15 - Marcello Paglia (Rugby Noceto FC)

14 - Michele Mortali (Gran Parma Rugby)

13 - Costantino Ricciardi (Petrarca)

12 - Giovanbattista Venditti (SSD Unione Capitolina)

11 - Giovanno Frapporti (Valpolicella)

10 - Fillippo Michelini (Viadana)

9 - Edoardo Gori (Cavalieri)

1 - Nicola Corbanese (Benetton Treviso)

2 - Enrico Lioineri (Ruggers Tarvisum)

3 - Zamparo Matteo (Amatori San Dona)

4 - Daniele Fratalochhi (Sambendettese)

5 - Paolo Stinchello (SSD Unione Capitolina)

6 - Marco Barbino (Petraca)

7 - Fillppo Ferrarini (Noceto FC)

8 - Gabriele Cicchinelli (SSD Unione Capitolina)

Replacements:

16 - Andrea Manici (Gran Parma)

17 - Nicola Corbanese (Bennetton Treviso)

18 - Antonio Denti (Viadana)

19 - Lorenzo Santelli (ASD Universita Cosenza)

20 - Fillipo Cazzola (Montebelluna)

21 - Tommaso Bergonzini (Viadana)

22 - Nicola Belardo (Partenope)

23 - Sebastian Rodwell (Firenze)

24 - Francesco Lenzi (Cavalieri)

25 - Alberto Chillon (Petrarca)

26 - Tommaso Benvenuti (Viadana)