Italy face England backlash

England number eight Nick Easter has warned Italy that they face a backlash when the two teams meet in Rome.

Following a nightmare start to their Six Nations campaign England are hungry to get back on track - starting on Sunday, Easter claims.

The match is England's chance to hit back from the second half surrender that allowed Wales to triumph at Twickenham for the first time in 20 years.

The 6ft 4in, 18-stone Harlequins player said: "I can't wait to get stuck in. I've a lot of pent up aggression in me."

The match will be Easter's first game of 2008. A right knee injury has kept him out of all rugby since late December, but it is a sign of how highly head coach Brian Ashton rates him that even with Luke Narraway having a decent debut, Easter is back in as soon as he is available.

In fact, of all the changes Ashton has made, Easter's return is the only one that was not forced upon him.

A year on from his first cap, the 29-year-old now finds himself the most experienced player in the back row.

"Brian and the other coaches have shown massive faith in me and I hope to repay them," he added.

Meanwhile Lesley Vainikolo is urging team-mates to give him more of the ball.

The giant Tongan-born wing's international rugby union career began in brilliant fashion against Wales when he set up a try for Toby Flood minutes after replacing the injured David Strettle.

But he became a fringe figure in the dismal second-half performance.

He said: "I definitely want to get my hands on the ball more this time. It's hard to be patient, but I've learnt that as a wing in union you have to be.

"In league you expect to touch the ball 20-25 times a game. In union it could a maximum of around ten."

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