But that has not stopped de Scossa from changing a winning formula with five players drafted in from the side that defeated Scotland 41-21.

And with Italy receiving a 68-5 drubbing last time out against England, de Scossa is expecting an Azzurri backlash when they travel to Pisa.

“We will be playing in front of a partisan crowd and I have no doubt they will be looking at us as a scalp so they will be playing all their big guns,” he said.

“I think we will be going into the match as underdogs. Italy have had some success over the past couple of years and will be looking to build on that.

“We can only play one game at a time, and one opposition at a time. We are not the finished article yet so it’s going to be tough.

“The changes we have made are strategical and part of the first phase of our development.”

There are new faces on the wings with Marid Evans and Kerin Lake replacing Caryl James and Charlie Murray, both try scorers in the game against the Scots

In other changes Laura Prosser comes in for Amy Day at scrum-half and in the pack Lowri Harries start at hooker in place of Rhian Bowden while Vicky Owens comes in for Jamie Kift in the back row.