Rugby: Two changes for Wales
Mallett aiming for best finish since 2007
19 March, 18:12
(ANSA) - Rome, March 19 - Italy coach Nick Mallett has made
two changes for Italy's last Six Nations match against Wales on
Saturday (14.30 GMT)."We have to go with what we've got," said Mallett, who had wanted four changes to the side that went down 46-20 to France in Paris last Sunday.
But Carlo Antonio Del Fava and Paul Derbyshire failed scans Friday so Marco Bortolami and Josh Sole start in their places.
Lock Valerio Bernabo' and Fijian flanker Manoa Vosawai come onto to the bench.
In the first change, scrum-half Canavosio comes in for Tito Tebaldi as Italy reunites the behind-the-scrum duo, with Craig Gower at fly-half, that played for the first time for 40 minutes against Australia in a 34-12 loss in Canberra in June.
There is another novelty in the back row as Sole returns, alongside No.8 Alessandro Zanni and Mauro Bergamasco.
Mallett expects Canavosio to feed faster ball to the three-quarters than Tebaldi did against the French, while Sole is needed to combat the wing threat of IRB 2008 Player of the Year Shane Williams.
"I'm sure they'll do a good job," said Mallett, who after beating Scotland two weeks ago is bidding for fourth place in the championship and Italy's best season since 2007 when it won two matches.
Mallett was hit by another last-minute injury in the three-quarter-line, knocking out Andrea Masi, so Gonzalo Canale will continue in the centre and Matteo Pratichetti comes onto the bench.
The line is completed by full-back Luke McLean, inside centre Gonzalo Garcia and Mirco Bergamasco on the left wing.
Mallett has confirmed Bergamasco in his kicking duties and the winger said Friday: "I'm working on my distance, now I've got up to 45 metres". The elder Bergamasco brother, Mauro, with his 84th cap, becomes the second most capped Italy player behind legendary scrum-half Alessandro Troncon (101) who is now Mallett's assistant.
Second-row forward Bortolami, a former captain, returns to partner Quintin Geldenhuys.
Mallett has confirmed the front row of tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni, hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini and loosehead prop Salvatore Perugini, who have all played every Six Nations match.
Wales and Italy are playing for the 17th time.
The Welsh Dragons have won 13 times, the Azzurri twice and there has been one draw, 18-18 in Cardiff in 2006.
Italy team: 15 McLean, 14 Robertson, 13 Masi, 12 Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Gower, 9 Canavosio, 8 Zanni, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Sole, 5 Bortolami, 4 5 Geldenhuyus, 3 Castrogiovanni, 2 Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Perugini. Substitutes: 16 Ongaro, 17 Aguero, 18 Bernabo', 19 Vosawai, 20 Tebaldi, 21 Bocchino, 22 Pratichetti.
