Italy coach Nick Mallett has resisted making changes to the starting XV that lost to Wales for Saturday’s final Six Nations game against France.
The Azzurri go into this weekend’s encounter at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico looking for their first victory of the tournament after losing their first four games against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Mallett’s men put in an improved performance in last Saturday’s 20-15 defeat to Wales and will be looking to keep up their progress against Les Bleus.
Italy had hoped to recover Andrea Masi, who missed the previous two games, but the Biarritz full-back has failed to shake off a neck injury.
France coach Marc Lievremont yesterday made four personnel changes and two positional alterations for the match. Damien Traille, Florian Fritz, Julien Bonnaire and Fabien Barcella return to the team, with Julien Malzieu, Mathieu Bastareaud, Jerome Thion and Lionel Faure dropping out.
Italy team (to face France)
A Marcato; G Rubini, G Canale, M Bergamasco, M Pratichetti; L McLean, P Griffen; S Perugini, L Ghiraldini, C Nieto, S Dellape, M Bortolami, A Zanni, M Bergamasco, S Parisse. Replacements: F Sbaraglini, M Castrogiovanni, C Antonio Del Fava, J Sole, P Canavosio, L Orquera, R Quartaroli.
France:D Traille; M Medard, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; F Trinh-Duc, M Parra; FBarcella, D Szarzewski, S Marconnet, L Nallet capt, S Chabal, T Dusautoir, J Bonnaire, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: W Servat, T Domingo, J Thion, L Picamoles, FMichalak, M Bastareaud, J Malzieu.
