Neil Back let slip yesterday that this week's England's team photograph had Martin Johnson sitting in the middle of the front row holding the ball. But when Clive Woodward's side, boasting nearly as many captains as British Airways, flew out to Rome last night for Sunday's game against Italy, it was not hard to spot the man in charge.

Back admitted he could barely keep the smile off his face at the prospect of winning a 50th England cap, after all those years of being told he was too small to be capped let alone lead a national squad containing his regular Leicester captain Johnson.

"I love doing this job," he said. "It brings out a little extra in me. I'm having to pinch myself at times."

That warm, hazy feeling will have evaporated long before kick-off at the Stadio Flaminio, though, for Back is demanding a "ruthless" performance against a side who have crossed the England line four times in the past two years, though Italy have still been swamped by a torrent of 139 points in those meetings.

"I don't want us to be all flash. I want us to use a bit of bash and do things in the right way," he said. "A win is not enough. We've got to build on what we've achieved in this Six Nations and one of the goals is not to concede a try."

The indiscipline that has marred Italy's Six Nations campaign to date has also been noted in the England camp. "I want us to be very physical but on the right side of the law."

Back is not holding his breath for an Ireland win in Paris that would give England every chance of regaining their Six Nations title at France's expense. "I've no interest in what happens on Saturday; what I'll be judged on is what happens on Sunday. We will watch it because we love rugby, but my only concern is how England play on Sunday."

It was against Italy in a non-cap international over a decade ago that Back first wore the England No7 jersey - he can even remember the date, May 15 1990 - but he now suggests the early rejections he suffered from, among others, the then England coach Geoff Cooke have "made me the person I am today".

England A, still seeking a first win this season, have drafted Henry Paul and Joe Worsley into their side to face Italy A in Naples tomorrow.

Italy (v England): Peens ; Mazzucato , Stoica , Raineri / Zanoletti , Dallan ; Dominguez , Troncon ; De Carli , Moscardi (capt), Pucciariello , Bortolami , Giacheri , Persico , Bergamasco , Phillips .

Scotland (v Wales): Laney (Edinburgh); Logan (Wasps), McLaren (Glasgow), J Leslie (Northampton), Paterson (Edinburgh); Townsend (Castres), Redpath (Sale, capt); Smith (Northampton), Bulloch (Glasgow), Stewart (Northampton), Murray (Saracens), White (Glasgow), M Leslie (Edinburgh), Pountney (Northampton), Taylor (Edinburgh).

England A : Scarbrough (Leeds); Booth (Leicester), May (Newcastle), Johnston (Saracens), Christophers (Bristol); Paul (Gloucester), Duncombe (Harlequins); Worsley (London Irish), Regan (Bath), Hardwick (London Irish), Cornwell (Gloucester), Borthwick (Bath, capt), White-Cooper (Harlequins), Volley (Wasps), Worsley (Wasps).

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