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Parisse set for Italy milestone

Parisse is part of a starting XV which see four players making their international debuts.

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David Odiete comes in at fullback to make his full Italy debut and will be joined on the left wing by Mattia Bellini.

In an apparent changing of the guard, experienced prop Martin Castrogiovanni was left on the bench as Benetton Treviso hooker Ornel Gega joined fellow debutant and loosehead prop Andrea Lovotti in the front row.

Elsewhere, New Zealand-born flyhalf Kelly Haimona remains on the bench after his recent recovery from injury, with the No,10 shirt going to Zebre's Carlo Canna who is set to make his eighth Italy appearance alongside 47-time capped Edoardo Gori at scrumhalf.

Italy have played France a total of 37 times, winning only three times against Les Bleus.

Italy: 15 David Odiete, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mattia Bellini, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Marco Fuser, 4 George Fabio Biagi, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Ornel Gega, 1 Andrea Lovotti.

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matteo Zanusso, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Valerio Bernabo, 20 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Kelly Haimona, 23 Luke McLean.

Date: Saturday, February 6

Venue: Stade de France, Paris

Kick-off: 15.25 (14.25 GMT)

Referee: JP Doyle (England)

Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)

TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

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Agence France-Presse

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