Italy's Mallett makes two changes for All Blacks

By Mark Meadows

MILAN (Reuters) - Forwards Martin Castrogiovanni and Carlo Antonio del Fava returned to an experienced Italy side on Thursday for the home clash with New Zealand on Saturday.

The duo are the only two changes to the team which lost 27-6 to the All Blacks in Christchurch in June in Italy's last outing.

Del Fava has replaced the injured Marco Bortolami in the second row while prop Castrogiovanni has knocked Ignacio Rouyet down to the bench.

Coach Nick Mallett, whose side have not won in over a year, is pinning his hopes on flyhalf Craig Gower to boost the Azzurri's attacking play.

Gower, a former Australia rugby league player who qualifies thanks to an Italian grandfather, picked up his first three caps in the June tour of Australia and New Zealand but will be making his first home appearance in front of 80,000 fans at Milan's San Siro.

"It's a fantastic occasion, it's good for rugby itself," Gower told reporters ahead of Italy's first November international, which will attract the biggest crowd for a rugby match in the country.

"Everyone knows exactly what they are doing and we've just got to put it into place," added the 31-year-old, whose Italian is not yet fluent.

"I'm learning the rugby stuff, the conversation is not so great."