Six Nations - Rubini and Nieto to start for Italy

Eurosport - Fri, 13 Mar 07:56:00 2009

Winger Giulio Rubini and front row forward Carlos Nieto (pictured) are the only changes in Italy's team to face Wales in the Six Nations at the Stadio Flaminio on Saturday.

Carlos Nieto - Italy - 0

Rubini, who came on as a replacement in last month's 26-6 defeat by Scotland for his only cap, comes in for Gonzalo Garcia with Mirco Bergamasco moving back to centre having played out wide at Murrayfield.

Nieto has replaced Martin Castrogiovanni, who drops to the bench.

Nick Mallett's side, who have also lost to England and Ireland, are bottom of the table and have conceded 100 points.

However, the South African has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes although debutant Roberto Quartaroli will be on the bench.

Forward Alessandro Zanni said Italy lack focus at times.

"We've got a bit of a concentration problem with little mistakes you can't afford to make at international level. As soon as you make them, the opposition score," he said.

"We want to win in front of our crowd and make up for what we didn't give them against Ireland."

The Azzurri pack has not been as effective as previous years but Zanni is confident it will work better against the Welsh.

"The pack is still one of our strong points. In the other games some incidents went against us when maybe they should have been in our favour but the referee saw them differently," he said.

"But the pack is still a strength and we'll show it on the field on Saturday."

Italy team to face Wales:

15-Andrea Marcato, 14-Giulio Rubini, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Mirco Bergamasco, 11-Matteo Pratichetti, 10-Luke McLean, 9-Paul Griffen; 8-Sergio Parisse (captain), 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 5-Marco Bortolami, 4-Santiago Dellape, 3-Carlos Nieto, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1-Salvatore Perugini

Replacements: 16-Franco Sbaraglini, 17-Martin Castrogiovanni, 18-Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 19-Josh Sole, 20-Pablo Canavosio, 21-Luciano Orquera, 22-Roberto Quartaroli

Reuters

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