England captain Chris Robshaw has described Italy as being a "fantastic unit" that his side will not take lightly this weekend.

Ireland currently top the Six Nations table going into the last weekend of action on points difference, but many are backing England to make up the deficit against bottom-of-the-table Italy on Saturday.

However, Robshaw is expecting a difficult match at the Stadio Olimpico against a side who very nearly held the 26-time champions two years ago.

"If there is a perception that we should win this game comfortably, that exists totally outside our camp," the 27-year-old is quoted as saying by The Express. "Our perception inside the camp is it's going to be a very tough game.

"Look at the England performances and scorelines the last few times we've played Italy, a narrow win over there in the snow two years ago and it was only seven at Twickenham last year when they cut us open for a try and we didn't score any.

"Whether it's a concentration thing or the mental side of the game, we've sometimes been flat against Italy and when you compare them now with when they came into the Six Nations in 2000 they are an outstanding unit."

Elsewhere, Wales face Scotland at the Millennium Stadium, while Ireland travel to Paris take on France.