Italy hit by injuries

Rugby: Italy coach Brad Johnstone will be missing key players for next weekend's Six Nations match in Dublin.

Italy coach Brad Johnstone will be missing key players for next weekend's Six Nations match in Dublin.

Two experienced campaigners Carlo Checchinato and Juan Manuel Queirolo have withdrawn from the squad.

And full-back Paolo Vaccari is a big doubt, according to the Italian Rugby Federation.

Checchinato, Italy's record cap-holder with 73 appearances, has strained a muscle in his right leg.

Matthew Phillips has been called into the squad

Scrum-half Queirolo fractured a finger when playing for his French club Dax.

Vaccari has still not recovered from the groin strain that sidelined him from the 44-20 defeat by Wales in Cardiff a fortnight ago.

Johnstone has replaced Checchinato with Matthew Phillips, the New Zealand-born number eight who had originally been dropped to the A team.

While Treviso's Matteo Mazzantini comes in for Queirolo.

Also added to the squad is Treviso centre Walter Pozzebon who has been ruled out of the first three matches of the tournament through injury.

Pozzebon is almost certain to start against the Irish as 19-year-old Mirco Bergamasco was overlooked for this match to allow him to represent Italy in the under-19 World Cup.