Aironi coach Franco Bernini has named a near full strength side for his side’s first ever Heineken Cup game against Ulster on Friday night, although Captain Quintin Geldenhuys will be missing for the visitors.

NINE months ago, Munster full-back Felix Jones was left to ponder his rugby future after a sickening and career-threatening injury in the Magners League clash with Connacht at Thomond Park.

DENIS LEAMY has had his status as stand-in skipper to the injured Paul O’Connell confirmed with the announcement that he is to lead Munster into Magners League battle against Aironi at Musgrave Park tomorrow (7.30pm).

AT first glance, there could be no more difficult a start to life in the Magners League than what lies ahead for Aironi on Saturday.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made no changes to the starting XV that lost their last RBS 6 Nations match to England for the game against Scotland in Rome on Saturday.

Carlo Antonio Del Fava is the surprise inclusion in Italy’s 30-man squad to face Scotland in their next RBS 6 Nations clash.

LEICESTER tight-head prop Dan Cole has admitted the prospect of anchoring the England pack in a full international was not even on his radar at the start of this season.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has been forced to make two changes to his 24-man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations match against England in Rome on Sunday.

BOXING is one of the few sporting activities in which the protagonists talk themselves up and promise to hammer the opposition into submission in the lead-up to a contest.

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

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made four changes to the side that lost against Ireland for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

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.

WARREN GATLAND delivered a blunt warning yesterday that any player who pursues a club career outside Wales will be putting his international future at grave risk.

Viadana 26 Saracens 34

ITALY manager Pierre Berbizier has made seven changes for tomorrow’s World Cup warm-up match against Ireland.

ITALY coach Pierre Berbizier feels the Azzurri are not treated with the same respect as other national teams in the RBS 6 Nations.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier feels the Azzurri are not treated with the same respect as other national teams in the RBS 6 Nations.

ITALY flanker Mauro Bergamasco will miss Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland after receiving a four-week ban for punching Wales captain Stephen Jones.

Italy centre Gonzalo Canale has been ruled out of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship game against Ireland.

Three more players have been drafted into Italy's training squad for their RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland next weekend.

Italy’s players and officials savoured an historic triumph at the Stadio Flaminio as the Azzurri beat Wales to claim their second consecutive win in the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Italy fly-half Andrea Scanavacca has revealed the Azzurri celebrated for three days after beating Scotland at Murrayfield.

ITALY prop Martin Castrogiovanni will miss the remainder of the RBS Six Nations campaign through injury.

Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni will miss the remainder of his country’s RBS 6 Nations campaign through injury.

Newcastle Falcons boss John Fletcher claims he would have been “a stark raving lunatic” to leave out a fully-fit Jonny Wilkinson for Sunday’s Guinness Premiership clash against title contenders Bristol.

NEWCASTLE boss John Fletcher has angrily rejected any suggestion Jonny Wilkinson is being “rested” from Guinness Premiership action this weekend on England’s request.

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

Wales 18 Italy 18

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte has recalled hooker Dimitri Szarzewski to his 22-man squad to play England in the Six Nations tournament at the Stade de France on March 12.

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.

IRELAND boss Eddie O’Sullivan declared “justice was done” after Denis Leamy was cleared of stamping on Italy scrum-half Paul Griffen, a decision that allows the Munster number eight to face France on Saturday.

Ireland’s Denis Leamy will line up against France in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash in Paris after being cleared of stamping on Italy scrum-half Paul Griffen.

Brian O’Driscoll fears Ireland could be victims of France’s desperation to atone for their Murrayfield debacle with pressure mounting on the RBS 6 Nations Championship favourites.

Ireland boss Eddie O'Sullivan hopes his misfiring players will respond to his vote of confidence by seizing the chance to redeem themselves against France on Saturday.

Ireland flanker Denis Leamy will find out tomorrow if he faces punishment following an alleged stamping incident during the RBS 6 Nations Championship victory over Italy at the weekend.

Brian O’Driscoll is set to skipper Ireland against France at the Stade de France on Saturday but the visitors could be without Denis Leamy after the flanker was cited for an incident during the victory against Italy.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan revealed match commissioner Rob Flockhart had launched an investigation into a biting incident during the 26-16 victory over Italy.

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.

Veteran scrum-half Alessandro Troncon has urged his Italy team-mates to put their mauling at the hands of France behind them and instead dedicate their time to closing the gap on the leading teams.

England 39 Italy 7

Ireland face the first examination of their RBS 6 Nations credentials at the Stadio Flaminio hoping to avoid becoming another famous Italian scalp.