Lancaster warns Flood

However, the reality is that he may well do just that, as England monitor the shoulder injury which forced Charlie Hodgson to leave the field during the second half of Saturday's 13-6 Calcutta Cup victory over Scotland.

As England launched their 'new era,' Hodgson scored the decisive try on his first Test start in four years as Lancaster's men kicked off their RBS Six Nations campaign with a tenacious win.

The England medics will keep tabs on Hodgson, while Flood returns to the squad after making his comeback from a knee ligament injury with a 30-minute cameo for Leicester at the weekend.

Flood will have until Tuesday evening, when England's 32-man squad is trimmed down ahead of the team selection, to convince interim head coach Lancaster of his match fitness.

Competition for places

Straight-talking Lancaster said: "I want to make sure people have to work hard to get into the team."

"I want to make sure people have to work hard to get into the team. "
Stuart Lancaster Quotes of the week

"I think there has to be real competition for the shirt and you have to prize it when you get it - and not let go of it."

Tom Wood, Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes will all be unavailable for the trip to Rome's Olympic Stadium, but Brad Barritt is expected to be fit after suffering a dead leg.

Barritt, one of seven red rose debutants at Murrayfield, had to be dragged off the field after a key contribution to England's victory.

Life-changing experience

Although South African by birth, Barritt's maternal grandparents were born in England and he has close family here. The Saracens centre bought wholeheartedly into Lancaster's philosophy of pride in the badge.

He said: "When you're representing your country and having the feeling of everyone behind you, it's a really emotional and life-changing experience.

"You could see in guys' eyes that they were hungry and wanted to put their bodies on the line. When you get to that position in a team it's a strong place to be. So each guy was willing to die for the cause."

Barritt revealed how the motivational speeches given to the squad by former England footballer Gary Neville, army veteran Corporal Simon Brown, as well as the England rugby league captain Jamie Peacock, had inspired the team.

"Gary said his best experience was playing in the England team with the nation behind them. We know we haven't achieved that yet but if it's got us some way in getting English rugby back behind the team it's brilliant," Barritt added.