Italy coach Nick Mallett has handed uncapped Giulio Rubini a starting berth for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations game against Wales in Rome.

ITALY coach Nick Mallett has called uncapped Franco Sbaraglini to replace injured Fabio Ongaro for tomorrow’s Six Nations game against Scotland.

Italy will be boosted by the return of lock Marco Bortolami and centre Andrea Marcato for their RBS Six Nations game in Scotland on February 28, but will be without Andrea Masi after the full-back received a three-week ban today.

Italy will be boosted by the return of lock Marco Bortolami and centre Andrea Marcato for their RBS Six Nations game against Scotland in Edinburgh on February 28.

FEDERICO Puciariello has been able to pack down in all three front-row positions since he was a youngster back in his native Rosario in Argentina.

IN their record tenth successive Heineken Cup quarter-final appearance, Munster stormed the historical fortress of English rugby at Kingsholm to register a third victory away from home at this stage of the competition — another cup record.

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Marcus Horan says Munster will be ready for whichever Gloucester side lines out at Kingsholm, writes Diarmuid O’Flynn.

JONNY WILKINSON has avoided the axe for England’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash against Italy in Rome on Sunday. The Newcastle out-half retains his place, despite producing a poor performance when England slumped 26-19 at home to Wales in their tournament opener.

Italy coach Nick Mallett believes the Azzurri will have to significantly raise their game when they meet England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship this weekend.

ITALY captain Sergio Parisse insists he is more than ready to assume his new responsibilities as he prepares for this afternoon’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener at Dublin’s Croke Park.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse insists he is more than ready to to assume his new responsibilities as he prepares for tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener at Dublin’s Croke Park.

Gloucester 26 Ospreys 18

Gloucester 26 Ospreys 18

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier is in confident mood as preparations begin in earnest for the World Cup.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier made three changes to his line-up for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match with Wales on a day when the Azzurri were upheld as an example for Italian sport by the country’s government.

Scotland captain Chris Paterson has challenged his team to build on the solid groundwork they put in for their 21-9 victory over Wales in miserable conditions at Murrayfield a week last Saturday.

ARGENTINA coach Marcelo Loffreda claims that his team will battle it out with Ireland for the second qualifying berth from Group D at the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.

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YOU might imagine that Ireland’s Triple Crown heroes would prefer to put up their feet and call it a day for this season.

ITALY coach Pierre Berbizier has made three changes for tomorrow’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash against Scotland in Rome.

JASON WHITE has promised everything possible will be done to fix Scotland’s misfiring line-out ahead of their final RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Italy.

Italy rugby chief Giancarlo Dondi has demanded the Azzurri “battle to the death” when they take on Wales in their next RBS 6 Nations Championship outing as they go in search of a first win in this year's competition.

Eddie O’Sullivan hopes a war of attrition with Italy’s vaunted pack will be avoided at Lansdowne Road tomorrow – but insists Ireland will not buckle if they are drawn into a forward collision.

IN a year when Italy has been devastated by injuries, new coach Pierre Berbizier has dropped a bombshell by excluding one of his most experienced players for tomorrow’s RBS Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has dropped Andrea Lo Cicero in favour of Fabio Ongaro in his team for the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland.