Mallet makes four changes for Azzurri

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made four changes to the side that lost their RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland for Saturday’s game against England at Twickenham.

Pablo Canavosio replaces injured Benetton Treviso scrum-half Edoardo Gori, who dislocated his shoulder during his team’s 13-11 defeat to Ireland at Rome’s Stadio Flaminio last weekend.

Kristopher Burton drops to the bench with Luciano Orquera taking his place at number 10. Orquera returns to the competition having not featured for the Azzurri in the Six Nations since 2005.

Valerio Bernabo will also earn his first start in the tournament due to flanker Josh Sole’s ankle injury.

Benetton Treviso’s Carlo Antonio Del Fava will partner club team-mate Quintin Geldenhuys in the Azzurri’s second row, replacing Santiago Dellape who is among the replacements.

Uncapped Fabio Semenzato has been included on the Azzurri bench.

The good news for Mallett is that captain Sergio Parisse has recovered from a finger injury.

Italy team to face England: L McLean (Benetton Treviso); A Masi (Racing-Metro Paris), G Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), A Sgarbi (Benetton Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Racing-Metro Paris); L Orquera (Brive), P Canavosio (MPS Aironi); S Perugini (MPS Aironi), L Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers), C Antonio Del Fava (MPS Aironi), Q Geldenhuys (MPS Aironi), V Bernabo (Benetton Treviso), A Zanni (Benetton Treviso), S Parisse (Stade Francais).

Replacements: F Ongaro (MPS Aironi), A Lo Cicero (Racing-Metro Paris), S Dellape (Racing-Metro Paris), R Barbieri (Benetton Treviso), F Semenzato (Benetton Treviso), K Burton (Benetton Treviso), G Garcia (Benetton Treviso).