Mallett hands Burton fly-half role for Italy

Italy coach Nick Mallett has handed Benetton Treviso’s Kristopher Burton the number 10 shirt for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Rome’s Flaminio Stadium.

The Australia-born fly-half replaces Craig Gower, who is out for the entire tournament with a knee injury, while Burton’s club team-mate Alessandro Zanni will replace veteran Mauro Bergamasco at number seven.