Coach John Kirwan has promoted Matteo Barbini from the bench to replace Bergamasco and brought in Roberto Pedrazzi, who was not in the original 22, on the wing.

The spare seat on the replacements bench goes to Treviso’s Walter Pozzebon.

Italy hope that Robertson could be fit for next weekend’s final RBS 6 Nations match against France, but Bergamasco is expected to be out for between three and five weeks.

That means he will also miss the Heineken Cup quarter-final between his French club Stade Francais and Newcastle.

Bergamasco’s absence results in yet another change for Kirwan, who had originally moved him from the wing to replace Cristian Stoica, who was left out after a close personal friend was killed in a car accident last weekend.

“He has stayed at home for the funeral and is pretty shattered,” said Kirwan, who revealed that both injuries occurred in training on Wednesday.

“They both happened within about 10 seconds of each other in the last two minutes of the session. We were hoping they would get through, but that hasn’t happened.

“You can’t worry about it. It’s out of our control, but I’m disappointed for the players.

“The fortunate thing is that both Roberto and Matteo have been with us for some time.

“They know the moves and they know the training, so the disruption to the team isn’t a huge one.”

Kirwan is under no illusion that his team need to get off to a good start at Twickenham in a clash between two sides who have both lost their opening three matches in this season’s championship.

The losers will almost certainly be heading for the wooden spoon, and Kirwan said: “The start is really important.

“England are reeling under pressure, and I think they will throw everything at us in the first 20 minutes, like they did here two years ago, and it’s up to us to take the pressure.

“I think the whole shape of the game will come down to the first 30 minutes. It’s so important that the Italian team plays well and puts the English team under pressure.

“If we can frustrate them by playing well, then it’s going to work in our favour,” he said.

Attempting to pinpoint a weakness in the English side, Kirwan said: “For the first time, there might be some doubt. It’s really up to us to try and exploit it.

Both sides have their strengths and weaknesses, and we are taking the gameplan we want to make work against the English.”

Kirwan, who has been under pressure in Italy with criticism of his team selection, denied that he regretted not bringing in goalkicking full-back Gert Peens for the out-of-form Roland de Marigny earlier in the campaign.

“Roland helped us win against Scotland last year, but he has had some technical problems with his kicking. Gert has come in and will help us with the kicking options,” he said.

Going through the whole Six Nations without a victory could put Kirwan’s future as Italian coach in jeopardy, but he responded: “We are trying to construct a team and, technically, the team have improved. We are a better side than we were last year.

“Criticism is part of the job, and if you don’t like it, get out of the kitchen.

“I don’t worry about it. We are building a side, we have a young side that’s getting better, and if people can’t see that, then it’s out of my control.”