Fired-up Italy are up for the Australian challenge

JAYDEN Hayward will come into the Italy team at fullback in place of club mate Luca Sperandio in the only change to take on Australia in their Test tomorrow.

The New Zealand-born utility back missed this month’s Tests against Ireland and Georgia because of a rib injury suffered in the PRO14 playing for Benetton.

The home side remain without injured captain Sergio Parisse, who won the last of his 134 caps against Scotland in March, and has been struggling with a calf injury.

“Australia is a tough team to tackle,” said coach Conor O’Shea.

“We have worked well these days and for the first time since the start of the November Test series we had a normal working week without long journeys.

“We know that playing our best rugby can put them in trouble. We have achieved an important victory against Georgia, but our focus from last Sunday has only been on the next opponent,” he said.

Meanwhile, recalled wing Yoann Huget will play his first Test for France in 2018 after being named as one of two backline changes by coach Jacques Brunel for tomorrow’s clash against Argentina in Lille as the side seek to end a five-match losing run.

Huget was not in the original squad for this month’s matches but replaces Damian Penaud, who was injured in last weekend’s dramatic 29-26 defeat to South Africa in Paris.

The winger is a 51-cap veteran but had not been considered for selection by Brunel for the November internationals until an injury to Wesley Fofana saw him called in to the squad. His last Test was a home defeat to the Springboks 12 months ago. The other change sees Gael Fickou replace Geoffrey Doumayrou at inside centre.