Italy seek improvement as Ireland look for big win

ROME (AP) — Overwhelming pick for another Six Nations wooden spoon, Italy wants to at least keep showing signs of improvement when it welcomes Ireland to Stadio Flaminio on Saturday.

Progress is the minimum demand of coach Nick Mallett, who goes into his fourth Six Nations campaign with only two wins in the tournament, both at home against Scotland.

A third victory is expected to be hard to come by, especially in the opener against Ireland.

The Irish have won 14 straight tests against Italy since 1999. None of the Italian side featured in the last win in 1997, before the team joined the Six Nations, and none of the Irish side have lost to the Italians, or even felt they were close to losing to the Azzurri on Italian soil.

It adds up to another challenging campaign for Italy, but one in which it still wants to make life difficult for allcomers.

That much is guaranteed with one of the world's most intimidating scrums, anchored by tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni.

However, while the scrum is an Ireland weakness, it shouldn't be enough to cause an upset.

"Ireland has a very strong backline and a very good lineout," Castrogiovanni said. "We have to try and maximize our advantages and put pressure on them and not let them have quick ball.

"But it won't be easy. We have to pressure in defense and not give their backs space because they can be very, very dangerous."

The match will determine how much Italy advanced during a reasonable autumn series when it lost narrowly to Argentina and Australia and beat Fiji, and how much more it needs to do before it plays Ireland again in the World Cup in New Zealand, where their clash in Dunedin on Oct. 2 will end the group stage.

Italy has been boosted by the return of influential captain Sergio Parisse, arguably the world's best No. 8. A knee injury forced him during last year's Six Nations to watch Italy lose four of five matches.

Australian-born flyhalf Kristopher Burton comes in for his first cap since 2009 in place of Craig Gower, and he'll team with Treviso teammate Edoardo Gori, who earns his third cap at scrumhalf. Gower was out of the tournament with a knee injury, as was flanker Mauro Bergamasco, who had a shoulder complaint.

Ireland's Mike Ross will make his Six Nations debut, packing down in the front row after John Hayes was ruled out with a groin injury.

Ross has gradually worked his way into Declan Kidney's squad since signing for Leinster in 2009, and is well aware of Italy's power in the forwards.

"I know enough about the front row," Ross said. "I know Castrogiovanni from my time in England and I know (Andrea) Lo Cicero from playing against him in the Heineken Cup."

He isn't the only Ireland player to be given his chance after injuries to a dozen test players. No. 8 Sean O'Brien replaces Jamie Heaslip, who has an ankle injury, while winger Fergus McFadden comes in for 2010 player of the tournament Tommy Bowe, who is out with a knee injury.

"I don't think the number of injuries is a worry," says hooker Rory Best. "The strength of the squad says a lot for the way we've evolved over the last six years."

Propped up by the relatively inexperienced Cian Healy and Ross, Best expects a severe grilling from the Italy pack.

"Leinster lost in Treviso at the start of the Magners League and that shows (Italian sides) have the ability to beat teams," Ross said. "They're now a very different animal. We have to give them respect."

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Lineups:

Italy: Luke McLean, Andrea Masi, Gonzalo Canale, Alberto Sgarbi, Mirco Bergamasco, Kristopher Burton, Eduardo Gori; Salvatore Perugini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni, Santiago Dellape, Quintin Geldenhuys, Josh Sole, Alessandro Zanni, Sergio Parisse (captain). Replacements: Fabio Ongaro, Andrea Lo Cicero, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Valerio Bernabo, Pablo Canavosio, Luciano Orquera, Gonzalo Garcia.

Ireland: Luke Fitzgerald, Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Gordan D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O'Leary; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Sean O'Brien. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Paddy Wallace.