Italy coach Nick Mallett has retained the XV which beat Scotland for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash against unbeaten France.

The Italians go into the encounter inspired by their 16-12 triumph over Scotland a fortnight ago that marked their first win in the competition since March 2008.

Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni has recovered from a muscular injury sustained in the Guinness Premiership last weekend and has been included in the Azzurri´s starting line-up, while Racing Metro fly-half Andrea Masi will earn his 50th cap at the Stade de France.

Italy team to face France:

L McLean (Benetton Treviso); A Masi (Racing Metro), G Canale (Clermont), G Garcia (Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais); C Gower (Bayonne), T Tebaldi (Parma); S Perugini (Bayonne), L Ghiraldini (Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), Q Geldenhuys (Viadana), M Bortolami (Gloucester), J Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), A Zanni (Treviso).

Replacements: F Ongaro (Saracens), M Aguero (Saracens), C Antonio Del Fava (Viadana), P Derbyshire (Padova), P Canavosio (Viadana), R Bocchino (Rovigo), K Robertson (Viadana).