KEY POINTS:
Italy's new rugby coach Nick Mallett has moved Andrea Masi from centre to first five-eighths for Saturday's opening Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin.
Mallett, who left out World Cup first five-eighths Ramiro Pez, acknowledged he was taking a risk picking Masi at No 10 ahead of the inexperienced Andrea Marcato. Roland de Marigny, Pez's understudy in France last year, is injured. "We've got to start somewhere. The first five-eighths position has been a problem in the past," former South Africa coach Mallett said.
"The sooner I see Masi playing, the better and the sooner he will improve. He'll be there for the next three games and hopefully will be there for the whole Six Nations."
