Mallett demands improvement from Italy

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.

Mallett today announced his team for Sunday's clash in Rome, revealing just one change to the starting XV that lost 16-11 to Ireland in his first game in charge last weekend.

Ezio Galon will replace injured Pablo Canavosio in the sole personnel change, although Mallett has warned that his decision not to reshuffle his pack does not mean he was content with the performance in Dublin last time out.

"Against Ireland it ended 16-11, but our opponents could have scored two or three more tries," he said.

"We were brave, we played with heart but we were also fortunate.

"Obviously we've watched England but we have to focus on ourselves, try to improve on the many things we must improve on."

Mallett's decision to retain the majority of the team that started at Croke Park means Andrea Masi retains the number 10 jersey despite his lack of experience in the role.

"I am teaching Andrea to play number 10," Mallett continued. "We must all try to take it one step at a time."

Mallett is also standing by fly-half David Bortolussi, who missed several kicks against the Irish.

"I don't like to change players after one game," Mallett said.

"I have spoken to David, he knows which mistakes he made and where he has to improve.

"The missed kicks weren't easy, and in any case Bortolussi remains the player with the best [kicking] percentage in our team."

Mallett will be hoping the Azzurri can show more discipline in defence this weekend than they managed in Dublin.

"Against Ireland, more than anything I appreciated the combative spirit shown by my team," said the English-born coach.

"But what I didn't like is that, on defence, we should have been better organised."

Meanwhile, Mallett feels the inclusion of Galon should bolster the Azzurri's backline.

"Ezio is a solid athlete, who has experience," the coach said.

"He played well for 50 minutes at Croke Park and he is also left-handed, hence he will be particularly useful in our defensive play."

England are the only European team Italy have failed to beat in a Test match and the Azzurri will have plenty of support on Sunday with the Flaminio Stadium a sell-out.

The hosts will be without Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami, who is still unavailable with an eye injury.

Gloucester prop Carlos Nieto, who missed the opening game after the death of his father, has returned to the group as a replacement.

Italy team to face England in Sunday's RBS 6 Nations Championship clash in Rome:

D Bortolussi (Montpellier); K Robertson (Arix Viadana), G Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), E Galon (Overmach Parma); A Masi (Biarritz), P Travagli (Overmach Parma); A Lo Cicero (Racing-Metro), L Ghiraldini (Calvisano), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), S Dellape' (Biarritz), CA del Fava (Ulster), J Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais).

Replacements: C Festuccia (Racing-Metro), S Perugini (Stade Toulousain), C Nieto (Gloucester), A Zanni (Calvisano), S Piccone (Treviso), A Marcato (Treviso), A Sgarbi (Treviso).