Six Nations team news: Following last weekend's failed experiment, Italy coach Nick Mallet has opted for a recognised scrumhalf for Sunday's match against Ireland. Mauro Bergamasco returns to the backrow with Paul Griffen coming into the side for the first time in 16 months.
Mallett has been forced to make some changes to his starting XV, with Italy’s number 10 Andrea Marcato and lock Marco Bortolami failing to recover from injuries sustained against England.
But the Azzurri coach’s biggest move has been to call Calvisano scrum-half Griffen to the squad after a lengthy absence. Griffen will play alongside club team-mate Luke McLean, who comes in for the injured Marcato.
“Griffen represents the best choice considering our current situation,” said Mallett today. “Mauro Bergamasco returns to the third line and I believe that we can expect a great game from him.
“With Marco Bortolami unavailable, I believe that Tommaso Reato can offer more security than Carlo Antonio Del Fava, who has played little of late due to injury.”
Mallett is aware of the challenge his team face against an Ireland side that showed great strength in their 30-21 win over France last weekend.
“Our opponents are coming from an important home win against France,” said Mallett. “They had not achieved such a result in the tournament since 2003. I believe that in the last year with Declan Kidney as coach, they have improved considerably.
“I think when they play with their hand, they are more dangerous than England and if we want to clinch some points, we will need to play a perfect game.”
Italy will have plenty of support in their first home game of the tournament, with 30,000 fans expected to attend the encounter at the Flaminio.
“On Sunday we will have the support of our fans and that will be a boost for us,” said Leicester Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni, who returned to play for the Azzurri last weekend after a one-year absence through injury.
“I remember in my first Six Nation back in 2002, when we played against Ireland the stadium was all green and now it’s all blue. If Ireland want to win on Sunday they will have to fully merit it because at home, no-one comes and takes points easily.”
In the four games between both sides in Rome, Ireland have won by an average of 20.25 points.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland received a welcome boost with news that Ryan Jones has recovered from injury and will captain Wales on Saturday.
However, the head coach still has two major fitness concerns in wing Shane Williams and number eight Andy Powell.
Jones is currently the only change from last weekend's impressive 26-13 victory over Scotland in Edinburgh, replacing Dafydd Jones in the backrow.
But Ospreys star Williams, who has scored 45 tries in 62 Tests, missed training today because of an ankle injury suffered at Murrayfield.
Powell pulled up in training with a tight calf muscle and Wales' fitness staff will give the injury time to settle before making a proper assessment.
If Williams is ruled out - he will be reassessed tomorrow after further rest - then Scarlets wing Mark Jones will be promoted from outside the match-day 22 to win his 44th cap after recovering from appendix surgery.
Centre Gavin Henson, meanwhile, has not sufficiently recovered from a calf strain to be made available for selection.
Henson was originally selected to face Scotland, but withdrew barely 48 hours before kick-off.
He now misses an eighth successive Test match, although it would have been a huge call by Gatland to change the all-Cardiff Blues midfield partnership of Tom Shanklin and Jamie Roberts, given their superb Murrayfield displays.
The possible loss of Williams, Powell or both would rock Welsh hopes of a third successive Six Nations victory against England.
Should Powell not make it, Gatland looks likely to move Ryan Jones to number eight, then recall Dafydd Jones off the bench and retain the number six shirt he wore against Scotland.
Wales were surprise victors over England at Twickenham last season, but a year on they find themselves installed as strong favourites - a fact not lost on Gatland.
He said: "The fixture is a bit of a reversal from last year.
"It just shows that a lot of things can change in 12 months, but there is also a lesson there in that we were not tipped to win at Twickenham, but we did and it sparked our season.
"We will need to play better all around the park than we did last week if we are to beat England.
"They are a side with a vast amount of experience and they will respond well to having their backs to the wall.
"We have reached fourth place in the International Rugby Board world rankings, and our challenge now is to stay there and maintain consistency of performance."
Italy team (v Ireland)
A Masi, K Robertson, G Canale, M Bergamasco, M Pratichetti, L McLean, P Griffen; S Parisse (C), M Bergamasco, A Zanni, T Reato, S Dellape, M Castrogiovanni, F Ongaro, S Perugini Replacements: C Festuccia, C Nieto, CA Del Fava, J Sole, G Toniolatti, G Garcia, A Bacchetti
Wales team (v England)
L Byrne, L Halfpenny, T Shanklin, J Roberts, S Williams, S Jones, M Phillips, A Powell, M Williams, R Jones (C), AW Jones, I Gough, A Jones, M Rees, G Jenkins. Replacements: H Bennett, J Yapp, L Charteris, D Jones, D Peel, J Hook, A Bishop
