Italy coach Nick Mallett on Wednesday announced a largely unchanged side to face England on Saturday from the one that lost 16-11 to Ireland in its opening Six Nations match in Dublin.
Full-back David Bortolussi has been confirmed despite criticism of some erratic kicking that, had it been better, might have made Saturday's Ireland contest even closer.
''Bortolussi has good percentages in training and the two kicks he missed at Croke Park were from difficult positions, one far out towards the sideline and the other from the half-way line''.
But Mallett acknowledged that kicking was one of Italy's problems, saying the team still didn't have anyone who could vie with the likes of England's Jonny Wilkinson or Ireland's Ronan O'Gara.
He cited powerful centre Andrea Masi, now switched to fly-half, as one team member who could make a good strategic and place kicker.
''I'm sure that, over time, Masi will gain in confidence and start kicking. He certainly has the potential to do it''.
For Saturday's game at the Flaminio Stadium, Mallett also confirmed the new half-back pairing of No.10 Masi and Pietro Travagli behind the scrum.
The only change is winger Ezio Galon coming in for the injured Pablo Canavosio, who he replaced at Croke Park.
On the bench, veteran prop Carlos Nieto returns after missing the Ireland game because of the death of his father.
Simone Picone has been picked as back-up for scrum-half Travaglio while 20-year-old Alberto Sgarbi earns his first call-up, poised to come on in the event of injuries to a centre or winger.
In one of its final training sessions for the England match, Mallett had his players try some five-a-side soccer, to the amusement of some.
''We knock a soccer ball around in post-match cool downs for my club Calvisano, but I'm a joke,'' said replacement forward Alessandro Zanni.
Mallet said soccer kickarounds were important ''because football is good for leg muscles and makes players more flexible from the waist down''. Here is the Italy team for the Six Nations match against England in Rome on Sunday (1430 GMT): 15-David Bortolussi, 14-Kaine Robertson, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Mirco Bergamasco, 11-Ezio Galon, 10-Andrea Masi, 9-Pietro Travagli, 8-Sergio Parisse (captain), 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 6-Josh Sole, 5-Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4-Santiago Dellape, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1-Andrea Lo Cicero Replacements: 16-Carlo Festuccia, 17-Salvatore Perugini, 18-Carlos Nieto, 19-Alessandro Zanni, 20-Simon Picone, 21-Andrea Marcato, 22-Alberto Sgarbi.
