Italy change four for Ireland Six Nations clash

Italy coach Conor O'Shea has made four changes to the team for Saturday's Six Nations match against Ireland - but skipper Sergio Parisse has been passed fit.

Inspirational skipper Parisse has shaken off a neck injury he suffered in last week's 33-7 defeat to Wales and takes his place at the back of the scrum in Rome.

Glasgow flanker Simone Favaro will return at openside after sitting out the Wales games as a precaution.

Andries van Schalkwyk was named in the second row and will partner Marco Fuser instead of George Biagi, who has been dropped to the bench and the vastly experienced Leonardo Ghiraldini will start at hooker.

Angelo Esposito will replace Giulio Bisegni on the right wing in the only change in the backs.

Irishman O'Shea has kept faith with his half-back partnership of Edoardo Gori and Carlo Canna, while prop Andrea Lovotti, whose second-half yellow card last week allowed Wales to fight their way back into the game, will start alongside Ghiraldini and Lorenzo Cittadini in the front row.

O'Shea said. "Ireland is where my family is, where my home is and where I spend my holidays. But right now my only priority is rugby with Italy.

"I'm not thinking about Ireland, but about us. We've got a mountain to climb for 80 minutes and I'm hoping for a great all-round performance this weekend."

Ireland travel to the Italian capital looking to make amends for an opening 27-22 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.

Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani; 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti; 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Edoardo Gori; 1 Andrea Lovotti. 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Marco Fuser; 5 Dries Van Schalkwyk, 6 Maxime MBanda'; 7 Simone Favaro, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt)

Replacements: 16 Ornel Gega, 17 Sami Panico, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 George Biagi, 20 Abraham Steyn, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Michele Campagnaro