Uncapped Gloucester flanker Polledri handed Italy debut

Gloucester flanker Jake Polledri will make his Italy debut against Scotland in Rome in the final round of Six Nations games tomorrow.

Polledri replaces the injured Maxime Mbanda in the only change to the Azzurri starting line-up after losing to Wales 38-14 in Cardiff last weekend.

The 22-year-old Englandborn Polledri, who qualifies for Italy through his grandmother, is having an impressive season for Glouces-

ter and was included in Italy’s provisional Six Nations squad but was cut before the first two matches against England and Ireland.

Polledri starts in the backrow with Sebastian Negri and captain Sergio Parisse, while Tomasso Allan starts at stand-off.

Tommaso Benvenuti will win his 50th cap for Italy, while lock Alessandro Zanni will make his 50th appearance with the Azzurri in the Six Nations.

Meanwhile, Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made seven changes to his starting line-up for tomorrow’s clash with France in Cardiff. Captain Alun Wyn Jones returns to lead the side after being rested for last weekend’s victory over Italy, while the likes of fullback Leigh Halfpenny, centre Scott Williams, stand-off Dan Biggar and flanker Josh Navidi also feature.

Biggar returns in the No 10 shirt, taking over from Gareth Anscombe. Williams is in for Owen Watkin, with prop Rob Evans and hooker Ken Owens also returning to action. There is no place in the starting XV for Aaron Shingler, though, with Justin Tipuric continuing at No 6 alongside back-row colleagues Navidi and Taulupe Faletau.

France captain Guilhem Guirado will miss the game with a knee injury. Adrien Pelissie will take the place of Guirado at hooker, with Cedate Gomes Sa also coming into the front row to replace Rabah Slimani.

Full-back Hugo Bonneval comes out of the side and is replaced by winger Gael Fickou, with Benjamin Fall switching to 15. Mathieu Bastareaud captains the team.

WALES TEAM: L Halfpenny; G North, S Williams, H Parkes, L Williams; D Biggar, G Davies; R Evans, K Owens, T Francis, C Hill, A W Jones (capt), J Tipuric, J Navidi, T Faletau. Subs: E Dee, N Smith, S Lee, B Davies, A Shingler, A Davies, G Anscombe, S Evans. FRANCE TEAM: B Fall; G Fickou, M Bastareaud (capt), G Doumayrou, R Grosso; F Trinh-duc, M Machenaud; C Gomes Sa, A Pelissie, J Poirot, S Vahaamahina, P Gabrillagues, W Lauret, Y Camara, M Tauleigne. Subs: C Cat, D Priso, R Slimani, B Le Roux, M Babillot, B Couilloud, L Beauxis, G Palis.