Martin Castrogiovanni: Thigh injury

Italy will be without Martin Castrogiovanni for their Six Nations clash with Ireland after he failed to recover from a thigh injury.

The 31-year-old Leicester Tigers front-rower is replaced at tighthead by Treviso's Lorenzo Cittadini with Andrea Lo Cicero reclaiming the number one shirt from Alberto De Marchi.

There is also a change in the back row where Simone Favaro comes in for Robert Barbieri, who is out with a hip injury.

Jacques Brunel's side are looking for their first win over Ireland in the Six Nations and Favaro is determined to end the championship on a positive note.

"Against England we gained in confidence, we were able to put something in place," he said.

"But we must not forget we lost, even if the performance was satisfactory. Now we have a new battle, and new challenge, that we want to win, as we want to win every time we go onto the pitch.

"That is our spirit. Winning on Saturday is fundamental, we can't judge our tournament before the Ireland game. We can talk of the assessment of the tournament on Sunday."

Italy team: Masi, Venditti, Canale, Garcia, McLean, Orquera, Gori; Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini, Cittadini, Geldenhuys, Furno, Zanni, Favaro, Parisse.

Replacements: Giazzon, Rizzo, De Marchi, Pavanello, Minto, Derbyshire, Botes, Benvenuti.