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 ofthe 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."
