Mallett forced into changes for Welsh challenge

Italy coach Nick Mallett has been forced to make several changes to his team to face Wales in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship encounter in Cardiff.

The Azzurri, who travel to the Welsh capital looking for their first victory after narrow defeats to Ireland and England, have brought in Andrea Marcato in place of David Bortolussi, who is struggling with a shoulder injury.

The Italians will also have to overcome the loss of injured duo Pablo Canavosio and Kayne Robertson while Andrea Lo Cicero has dropped to the bench.

Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami, who missed the opening two games with an eye injury, returns as a replacement.

Simon Picone, who scored Italy’s only try in the 23-19 loss to England in Rome last time out, has earned a place in the starting line-up ahead of Pietro Travagli.

Italy team to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Cardiff on Saturday:

A Marcato (Treviso); A Sgarbi (Treviso), G Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), E Galon (Overmach Parma); A Masi (Biarritz), S Picone (Treviso); S Perugini (Toulouse), L Ghiraldini (Calvisano), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), S Dellape’ (Biarritz), CA del Fava (Ulster), J Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), S Parisse (Stade Francais).

Replacements: C Festuccia (Racing-Metro), A lo Cicero (Racing-Metro), M Bortolami (Gloucester), A Zanni (Calvisano), Pietro Travagli (Overmarch Parma), P Buso (Calvisano), E Patrizio (Petrarca Padova).