Italy v Ireland:Already without their abrasive and talismanic flanker Mauro Bergamasco, Italy have had their famed frontrow resources depleted by the loss of their 64-times capped loosehead Andrea Lo Cicero for tomorrow's Six Nations clash with Ireland, writes Gerry Thornleyin Rome
The well-travelled 30-year-old Sicilian had been left on the bench until the last quarter along with Carlo Festuccia and Martin Castrogiovanni in the opening 39-3 defeat by France, but all three had been promoted to the starting line-up thereafter.
A prominent ball carrier when looking back to his best in last Saturday's 23-20 home win over Wales, Lo Cicero has been ruled out by a fever.
With Castrogiovanni also sidelined since the first quarter of the Azzurris' win in Murrayfield a fortnight earlier, and hence deprived of a renewal of acquaintances with John Hayes, it means coach Pierre Berbizier must recall Salvatore Perugini alongside Festuccia and Carlo Nieto.
The suspension of the versatile Bergamasco, who is replaced by Calvisano's Maurizio Zaffiri, and the depletion to his frontrow resources mean Berbizier must abandon his policy of a five-two split on the bench between forwards and backs and with it the introduction of a fresh frontrow in the last quarter. Bergamasco had switched to the threequarter line during their wins over Scotland and Wales, indeed scoring the decisive late try against Wales, but Berbizier only has named one prop, the gargantuan Fabio Staibano of Parma, among the replacements.
Berbizier has once again opted for Ramiro Pez at outhalf, leaving Andrea Scanavacca on the bench, while in a third enforced change, Parma's Ezio Galon will win his eighth cap at centre in place of the elusive, creative and influential Gonzalo Canale, who picked up a thigh injury against Wales.
Treviso centre Matteo Barbini and Viadana loose forward Josh Sole are recalled to the bench after recovering from injuries.
Italian rugby has never been so buoyant, wins over Italy and Scotland having ensured their best Six Nations campaign to date, and their inspirational Stade Français number eight Sergio Parisse, man of the match against Wales, is hoping they will round things off in style against the Irish.
"I'm sure it will be a great game, but we must be capable to play at our best against Ireland," said Parisse. "Then we will see what can happen."
Italian rugby's spell in the limelight and reputation for good crowd behaviour come at a time when Italy's favourite sport, football, has been tarnished with scandals and violence. This week, Corriere Della Sera had a spread explaining such basics as what scrums are all about and why the ball cannot be passed forward.
When Prime Minister Romano Prodi granted a rare television interview on Canale 5 last Sunday and was asked if he'd watched the Serie A Milan derby, he replied no, but he had enjoyed watching Italy's win over Wales in Stadio Flaminio the day before.
Yesterday, the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) president, Giancarlo Dondi, met Prodi in the government buildings and Luca Pancalli, the man brought in to clean up Italian football after the match-fixing scandal, told students, "There are many reasons that I envy rugby. I would like football to take rugby as an example."
Amid fears the huge travelling Irish contingent might turn tomorrow's game into a St Patrick's Day parade, the Italian Federation president have also been using the current feel-good factor about Italian rugby to demand that the proposed redevelopment of the Stadio Flaminio - to increase capacity from under 25,000 to 35,000 - start immediately. Italian rugby still has a long road to travel but at last it is travelling in the right direction.
