The coach also made it clear he would not treat the RBS 6 Nations Championship game against the Azzurri as a chance to experiment with fringe players.

He declared: "The players' attitude is spot-on - there will be absolutely no complacency whatsoever."

The Italians have already registered a win in this season's RBS 6 Nations by beating Wales, but their record against England is dismal.

All eight previous encounters between the countries have been won by England with an average scoreline of 49-14, while on four trips to Twickenham, Italy have conceded 237 points including 80 when they last visited London two years ago.

Italy might potentially be England's weakest opponents of the campaign, but Woodward added: "This is not a championship to experiment.

"The England players don't want that, and I don't want to do that. This is my strongest team, which is what the championship wants, what 72,000 people at Twickenham on Sunday want, and what people watching on television want.

"We are not there to put out an experimental team. I pick the team on merit, and that's what I fully intend to do in this championship."