New Italy coach Brunel makes mark with changes

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has rung the changes for his team’s RBS Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Saturday.

Brunel, who faces his home nation in his first game in charge of the Azzurri, has made seven alterations to the squad from Italy’s last game.

A 36-6 defeat to Ireland in October eliminated Italy from the World Cup in New Zealand and marked Nick Mallett’s last game in charge.

Aironi winger Giovanbattista Venditti will earn his first cap at the Stade de France after being included in Brunel’s starting XV.

Another uncapped player, Benetton Treviso’s Tobias Botes, will start on the bench.

Italy beat France 22-21 for the first time in the Six Nations last year in Rome, but finished last in the tournament.

Meanwhile, France manager Philippe Saint-Andre has urged his team to focus on the reasons why they almost made an early exit from the World Cup rather then on their brave performance in the final when they host Italy.

France lost 8-7 in the World Cup final to hosts New Zealand in October, only after scraping through the group phase with defeats by the All Blacks and Tonga. “We’re the World Cup runners-up but we almost got knocked out in the first round,” said Saint-Andre, who took over from Marc Lievremont in December. “We must not forget the values of rugby: humbleness, respect (for our opponents). We will have to wear our spiked helmet. On Saturday, I expect France to fight, to show enthusiasm and to go forward.”

Italy team: A Masi (Aironi Rugby), G Venditti (Aironi Rugby), T Benvenuti (Benetton Treviso), A Sgarbi (Benetton Treviso), L McLean (Benetton Treviso), K Burton (Benetton Treviso), E Gori (Benetton Treviso); A Lo Cicero (Racing-Metro Paris), L Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers), C Van Zyl (Benetton Treviso), Q Geldenhuys (Aironi Rugby), A Zanni (Benetton Treviso), R Barbieri (Benetton Treviso), S Parisse (Stade Francais). Subs: T D’Apice (Aironi Rugby), L Cittadini (Benetton Treviso), M Bortolami (Aironi Rugby), S Favaro (Aironi Rugby), F Semenzato (Benetton Treviso), T Botes (Benetton Treviso), G Canale (Clermont-Auvergne).