Stand-off Dominguez was rested for the 40-5 defeat by England at Twickenham but coach John Kirwan reinstates the 36-year-old veteran in place of deputy Ramiro Pez, who like Dominguez hails from Cordoba in Argentina.

"Ramiro did really well when I gave him his chance," said Kirwan. "It's good for a coach to have two professionals like Diego and Ramiro to choose between."

Mauro Bergamasco, regarded as Italy's hottest rugby talent, was not in the party for the France match, although his younger brother Mirco wins a berth at full-back. Mauro was selected for the match at Twickenham only to withdraw on the day of the game with a mystery injury.

Italy team to face France:

Mirco Bergamasco (Padova); N Mazzucato (Treviso), P Vaccari (Calvisano), G Raineri (Calvisano), D Dallan (Treviso); D Dominguez (Stade Francais), A Troncon (Treviso, capt); A Lo Cicero (Lazio), C Festuccia (GRAN Parma), R Martinez (Treviso), C Bezzi (Viadana), M Giacheri (Rotherham), A De Rossi (Calvisano), A Persico, M Phillips (both Viadana)

Replacements: F Ongaro (Treviso), L Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), S Dellape (Treviso), Scott Palmer (Treviso), M Mazzantini (Rovigo), R Pez (Rotherham), A Masi (L'Aquila).