Italian coach John Kirwan has made four changes to the team that beat Scotland, for Saturday's RBS Six Nations championship match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

Italian coach John Kirwan has made four changes to the team that beat Scotland, for Saturday's RBS Six Nations championship match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

Veteran lock Carlo Checcinato and Calvisano wing Nicola Mazzucato are recalled to the starting line-up in place of Treviso's Santiago Dellape and Arix Viadana's Andrea Masi, who drop to the bench.

Cecchinato's 83rd international apperance will make him the joint most-capped player in Italian rugby alongside Alessandro Troncon, who has not played in the Six Nations this year due to injury.

Injuries have ruled out number eight Sergio Parisse and centre Manuel Dallan and they are replaced by New Zealand-born Scott Palmer and Matteo Barbini respectively.

Calvisano flanker Roberto Mandelli receives his first call-up but has to make do with a place among the substitutes.

Italy: Gonzalo Canale (Treviso); Nicola Mazzucato (Calvisano), Cristian Stoica (Montpellier/FRA), Matteo Barbini (Padova), Denis Dallan (Treviso); Roland De Marigny (Overmach Parma), Paul Griffen (Calvisano); Scott Palmer (Treviso), Aaron Persico (Leeds/ENG), Andrea De Rossi (Calvisano, capt); Marco Bortolami (Padova), Carlo Checcinato (Treviso); Martin Leandro Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Fabio Ongaro (Treviso), Andrea Lo Cicero (Lazio) Replacements: Carlo Festuccia (Gran Parma), Salvatore Perugini (Calvisano), Santiago Dellape (Treviso), Roberto Mandelli (Calvisano), Simon Picone (Treviso), Andrea Masi (Viadana), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais/ENG)

AFP - 2004