O'Shea makes changes for France 6 Nations clash

Italy coach Conor O'Shea has recalled George Biagi into the squad to face France in the Natwest 6 Nations, with Renato Giammarioli, Giovanni Licata and Giulio Bisegni also drafted in.

The Azzurri have been thumped 46-15 by England and 56-19 by Ireland in the first two matches of the tournament

O'Shea's side will look to pull off an upset in Paris a week on Friday and have opted to bring back lock Biagi and flanker Giammarioli, who both featured against England but missed the match in Dublin.

Flanker Licata last played against South Africa in November, while centre Bisegni has not made an appearance since Italy's 2017 Six Nations loss to England in February of that year.

Full-back Edoardo Padovani is still out with an ankle injury.

Italy squad:

Forwards: Luca Bigi, Dean Budd, Oliviero Fabiani, Simone Ferrari, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti, Maxime Mbanda, Sebastian Negri, Sergio Parisse (captain), Tiziano Pasquali, Nicola Quaglio, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, Abraham Steyn, Alexander Zanni.

Backs: Tomasso Allan, Mattia Bellini, Tomasso Benvenuti, Tomasso Boni, Carlo Canna, Tomasso Castello, Edoardo Gori, Jayden Hayward, Ian McKinley, Matteo Minozzi, Marcello Violi.