Perugini gets nod for Italy

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier will start Salvatore Perugini at prop instead of Andrea Lo Cicero for Saturday’s Six Nations Championship opener against France.

Lo Cicero had impressed in the autumn Tests while Toulouse star Perugini served a five-week ban for a headbutting incident in a Heineken Cup game against Ulster last October.

Berbizier has preferred the experience of the 28-year-old, who shone in the pack for the Azzurri in last year’s Six Nations campaign.

Berbizier has also named Ramiro Pez as a replacement, and opted to pair 33-year-old Andrea Scanavacca at half-back with Paul Griffen.

Former captain Alessandro Troncon had a surprise recall to the party after two years not playing for the national team and has been named as a replacement.