Sport

Italy make six changes

Italy coach Brad Johnstone has called up players from both ends of the age spectrum for next week's Six Nations clash against…

Fri Feb 25 2000 - 00:00

Italy coach Brad Johnstone has called up players from both ends of the age spectrum for next week's Six Nations clash against Ireland.

Johnstone named 35-year-old lock Walter Cristofoletto, the oldest man in Italy's World Cup squad last year, and 18-year-old centre Andrea Masi, the youngest ever to play for Italy, in his 24-man party for the match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week.

Johnstone drafted a further four new names into his squad for the trip to Lansdowne Road.

Benetton Treviso centre Giacomo Preo, RDS Roma pairing Carlo Caione and Giampiero Mazzi, and uncapped L'Aquila prop Salvatore Perugini are given a chance while six players are relegated to the Italy `A' party.

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Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has recalled Chris Paterson while dropping Shaun Longstaff and Graham Shiel in his squad for the match against France at Murrayfield on Saturday week.

ITALY: (squad) - Forwards: Mauro Bergamasco, Massimo Cuttitta, Giuseppe Lanzi, Alessandro Moscardi, Carlo Checchinato, Andrea Gritti, Wilhelmus Visser, Tino Paoletti, Carlo Orlandi, Walter Cristofoletto, Carlo Caione, Andrea De Rossi, Salvatore Perugini. Backs: Diego Dominguez, Luca Martin, Cristian Stoica, Mathew Pini, Alessandro Troncon (captain), Denis Dallan and Giacomo Preo, Juan Francesio, Marco Rivaro, Giampiero Mazzi, Andrea Masi.

SCOTLAND: (squad) - Backs: Graeme Beveridge, Duncan Hodge, John Leslie (captain), Kenny Logan, James McLaren, Jamie Mayer, Glenn Metcalfe, Andy Nicol, Chris Paterson, Gregor Townsend. Forwards: Steve Brotherstone, Stuart Grimes, David Hilton, Martin Leslie, Scott Murray, Budge Pountney, Stuart Reid, Robert Russell, Gordon Simpson, Tom Smith, Mattie Stewart, Doddie Weir.

FRANCE: (squad) - Backs: Thomas Castaignede, Richard Dourthe, Christophe Dominici, Emile Ntamack, Thomas Lombard, Stephane Glas, Alain Penaud, Gerald Merceron, Christophe Laussucq, Fabien Galthie, David Venditti. Forwards: Sebastien Chabal, Olivier Magne, Fabien Pelous (captain), Lionel Mallier, Thomas Lievremont, Olivier Brouzet, Jean Daude, Franck Tournaire, Christian Califano, Pieter De Villiers, Marc Dal Maso, Raphael Ibanez.