Italy make four changes for Wales match

By Paul Virgo

ROME (Reuters) - Italy coach Nick Mallett has made four changes for Saturday's Six Nations championship match against Wales in Cardiff (3 p.m.), including selecting scrumhalf Simon Picone ahead of Pietro Travagli.

Reserve flyhalf Andrea Marcato replaces the injured David Bortolussi at fullback and will take the place kicks while Alberto Sgarbi takes over from winger Kaine Robertson, who has a thigh injury.

Mallett has decided to drop Andrea Lo Cicero and hand prop Salvatore Perugini his 50th cap with lock Santiago Dellape and centre Mirco Bergamasco, who turns 25 on Saturday, also poised to make a half-century of appearances.

The retirement of Alessandro Troncon after last year's World Cup has left Italy searching for the best scrumhalf option.

"In the beginning I saw Simon as a replacement for Troncon but that wasn't possible because of injury. Pietro has improved but some of his service to the flyhalf was not up to standard against England," Mallett told a news conference on Wednesday, adding that Travagli would come on in the second half.

ANNOYED MALLETT

Former captain Marco Bortolami has been named on the bench after recovering from an eye socket fracture which kept him out of the defeats by Ireland and England in Italy's first two matches under Mallett.

However, the lock has a neck spasm and may still not be available.