Gower is fit to start for Italy

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Italy coach Nick Mallett has named Craig Gower in his team to face Ireland in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations opener at Croke Park.

The team is unchaged from the one that lined out against Samoa, a match the Azzurri won Samoans, 24-6, to end a 13-match winless streak.

Gower, currently with French club Bayonne, began his career as a hooker in Australian Rugby League and was capped at international level for Australia. He has recovered from a knee injury and has been handed the number 10 role while Benetton Treviso's Alessandro Zanni will replace injured captain Sergio Parisse at number 8.

Parisse is out for the entire tournament with a knee injury, and front-rower Leonardo Ghiraldini will serve as captain.

Mallett has included uncapped Rovigo fly-half Riccardo Bocchino on the bench.

The Italians go into the tournament looking to improve after wooden-spoon performances in 2008 and 2009.

They have won just one of their last 10 games in the Six Nations, a 23-20 victory over Scotland in Rome nearly two years ago.

Italy team to play Ireland at Croke Park at 2.30pm on Saturday:

Luke McLean, Kaine Robertson, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco, Craig Gower, Tito Tebaldi, Alessandro Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, Josh Sole, Quintin Geldenhuys, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain) Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: Fabio Ongaro, Matias Aguero, Marco Bortolami, Paul Derbyshire, Simon Picone, Riccardo Bocchino, Andrea Masi.