Rugby: Parisse returns to revamped Italy against England

Rome, March 8 - Italy coach Jacques Brunel has revamped his side for Sunday's Six Nations match in England, making seven changes to his starting line-up, one positional, and bringing back Sergio Parisse after the captain's disciplinary ban was cut.

The Azzurri started their campaign with a stunning 23-18 win over France on the opening day.

But since then they have slumped to a 34-10 defeat in Scotland and gone down 9-26 to Wales at home, prompting Brunel to ring the changes.

"We made a good start to the tournament and then we were a bit disappointed about how the following two matches went, for different reasons," Brunel said Friday.

"We didn't show the energy we should have against Wales. I don't know whether that was because of physical tiredness or something else.

"But it wasn't the attitude we expect from this team. "In this sense, Sunday's clash will be important. If we aren't at the same level as them physically, we are in store for a very tough afternoon and possibly a heavy defeat". Parisse, who is considered one of the world's best number eights, returns after his ban for allegedly insulting a referee while in action for his club Stade Francais was cut from 30 to 20 days in appeal.

Brunel has reinstated flyhalf Luciano Orquera, who was the man-of-the-match of the win over France but dropped to the bench after an error-strewn performance in Scotland, at the expense of Kris Burton. Gonzalo Garcia comes into the team at inside centre, with Gonzalo Canale switching to outside centre and Tommaso Benvenuti dropping to the bench.

Roberto Barbieri takes over at blindside flanker from Alessandro Zanni, fit-again Robert Barbieri starts at openside in place of Simon Favaro and Parisse replaces Manoa Vosawai at the back of the scrum.

In the second row Joshua Furno and Quintin Geldenhuys take over from Francesco Minto and Antonio Pavanello.

Prop Alberto De Marchi enters the front row with Andrea Lo Cicero demoted to the replacements.

If Lo Cicero, 36, comes on at London's Twickenham stadium he will collect his 102nd cap and become the player to have the most appearances for Italy of all time. Italy, fifth in the standings above France, host Ireland in their final game on March 16.

Italy team: 15-Andrea Masi, 14-Giovanbattista Venditti, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Gonzalo Garcia, 11-Luke McLean, 10-Luciano Orquera, 9-Edoardo Gori, 8-Sergio Parisse, 7-Robert Barbieri, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 5-Joshua Furno, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1-Alberto De Marchi Replacements: 16-Davide Giazzon, 17-Andrea Lo Cicero, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Antonio Pavanello, 20-Francesco Minto, 21-Simone Favaro, 22-Tobias Botes, 23-Tommaso Benvenuti.