Picone gets RBS Six Nations start

The Benetton Treviso No.9 scored a try against England after coming off the bench and will look to impress in his first Six Nations start in an Italy shirt.

But Mallett must do without Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami who is suffering from a neck problem. The experienced lock missed Italy’s first two Six Nations games due to a fractured eye socket and will start on the bench.

Andrea Marcato is in for injured David Bortolussi at fullback while Alberto Sgarbi replaces winger Kaine Robertson.

Salvatore Perugini is in for dropped prop Andrea Lo Cicero.

Italy: Andrea Marcato, Alberto Sgarbi, Gonzalo Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Ezio Galon, Andrea Masi, Simon Picone; Salvatore Perugini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni, Santiago Dellape, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Josh Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Sergio Parisse (Captain)

Replacements: Carlo Festuccia, Andrea Lo Cicero, Marco Bortolami, Alessandro Zanni, Pietro Travagli, Paolo Buso, Enrico Patrizio.

Wales: Lee Byrne; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough, Ian Evans, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones (Captain)

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Deiniol Jones, Gareth Delve, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Sonny Parker