KEY POINTS:
ROME - Italy first five-eighth Andrea Scanavacca has said last weekend's historic win over Scotland in the Six Nations rugby championship has given his side a huge confidence boost as they prepare to face Wales in Rome on March 10.
"Now we know we are capable of competing with the better teams in the competition," Scanavacca was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport today.
The Azzurri's 37-17 victory at Murrayfield -- their first-ever away win in the competition -- has raised hopes they can also beat Wales at the Stadio Flaminio.
The Welsh lost 21-9 to Scotland in the second round of matches.
A second win in this year's competition would represent an important milestone for Italy, who have never won more than one match in any of their previous seven Six Nations.
Their chances have been hit, however, by the number of injuries they suffered at Murrayfield.
Pierre Berbizier's 24-man squad for the game against Wales is missing several first-team regulars.
Centre Andrea Masi fractured his cheekbone against the Scots and will be replaced by Ezio Galon, while on the wing Denis Dallan is still recovering from an ankle injury he picked up against England earlier this month.
Berbizier has also lost two players in the pack.
Prop Martin Castrogiovanni is expected to miss the rest of the Six Nations after injuring his knee against Scotland. Fabio Staibano, who has never appeared in the competition, has been called up to replace him.
Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini replaces Fabio Ongaro, who is out with a neck injury, but could recover in time for Italy's final Six Nations match against Ireland on March 17.
Squad
Forwards: Mauro Bergamasco, Valerio Bernabo, Marco Bortolami, Santiago Dellape, Carlo Festuccia, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero, Roberto Mandelli, Carlos Nieto, Sergio Parisse, Salvatore Perugini, Fabio Staibano, Alessandro Zanni
Backs: Mirco Bergamasco, Gonzalo Canale, Roland De Marigny, Ezio Galon, Paul Griffen, Ramiro Pez, Matteo Pratichetti, Kaine Robertson, Andrea Scanavacca, Alessandro Troncon, Maurizio Zaffiri
- REUTERS
