Six Nations / France v Italy: During the World Cup Italy played four games in 14 days, which left them shattered by the time they faced Wales in Canberra.
Now they have begun this tournament with a visit from the world champions England and a trip to Paris in the same week.
Italy have barely recovered from the sight of Jason Robinson dodging through their defence, and now France's heavyweight centre pairing of Damien Traille and Yannick Jauzion are licking their lips at the prospect of a try feast at Stade de France. John Kirwan, the Italy coach, this week acknowledged his team had been exposed in defence last Sunday and need to tighten up. Before the tournament he lost a full back, Gonzalo Canale, and now his replacement, Andrea Masi, has been injured in training.
The Viadana player, who pulled up with a muscle strain, is replaced by the South African-born Roland de Marigny. Italy have also lost the centre Manuel Dallan, who sprained his ankle last Sunday.
Kirwan's problem is that while his forwards are competitive he does not have much depth of talent in his back line. And, ironically, one of his few world-class backs, the converted flanker Mauro Bergamasco, has also been injured. Matteo Barbini is at centre while Bergamasco's brother Mirco takes over on the right wing.
France, who did not play particularly brilliantly in beating Ireland 35-17 last Saturday, have been forced into one change, the in-form Biarritz outhalf Julien Peyrelongue replacing Frederic Michalak, who injured his neck and shoulder against Ireland.
Guardian Service
FRANCE: N Brusque; V Clerc, Y Jauzion, D Traille, C Dominici; J Peyrelongue, J-B Elissalde; S Marconnet, W Servat, P de Villiers, F Pelous (capt), P Pape, S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: Y Bru, J-J Crenca, D Auradou, T Lievremont, D Yachvili, B Liebenberg, P Elhorga.
ITALY: R de Marigny; M Bergamasco, C Stoica, M Barbini, D Dallan; R Wakarua, P Griffen; A Lo Cicero, F Ongaro, M Castrogiovanni, S Dellape, M Bortolami, A de Rossi ( capt), A Persico, S Parisse. Replacements: C Festuccia, S Perugini, C Checchinato, S Orlando, S Picone, M Dallan, N Mazzucato.
Stade de France, 2.0. On TV: BBC 1
