Italy unchanged for French clash
Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:26
Italy coach Nick Mallet has kept faith in the side that beat Scotland in the Six Nations by naming an unchanged match-day 22 to take on France.
Star tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni has recovered from a muscle strain in time for the match and wing Andrea Masi will start despite having problems with a stiff neck.
Mallett had also picked the same starting XV when they made England fight hard to come away with a 17-12 win.
Neighbors France could be the Azzurri's toughest challenge yet as Les Bleus are in the hunt for the Grand Slam after wins against Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Masi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain) 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Kaine Robertson.
Date: Sunday, March 14
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT)
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), David Changleng (Scotland)
TMO: Hugh Watkins (Wales)
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