Dallan picked up a right ankle injury during the second half of last Sunday's 50-9 defeat against England.

Manuel is 95% recovered and thus he has won himself at least a place on the bench, said Azzurri coach John Kirwan when announcing his team.

Padova centre Matteo Barbini will replace Dallan in Italy's starting line-up, while full-back Andrea Masi's absence hands a first RBS 6 Nations start for South African-born Roland De Marigny.

Kirwan has also brought in Stade Francais full-back Mirco Bergamasco for winger Nicola Mazzucato, who will join Dallan on the bench.

We have to improve our defence and when we have broken our rivals line, we have to have more eagerness to get a try. Trying to sustain our play with more men, that is what I expect from my men tomorrow, added Kirwan.

Italy team to play France in RBS 6 Nations match at the Stade de France:
Roland De Marigny (Overmach Parma); Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Cristian Stoica (Montpellier), Matteo Barbini (Padova), Denis Dallan (Treviso); Rima Wakarua (Brescia), Paul Griffen (Calvisano); Andrea Lo Cicero (Lazio), Fabio Ongaro (Treviso), Martin Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Santiago Dellape (Treviso), Marco Bortolami (Padova), Andrea De Rossi (Calvisano, capt), Aaron Persico (Leeds), Sergio Parisse (Treviso).

Replacements: Carlo Festuccia (SK Gran Parma), Salvatore Perugini (Calvisano), Carlo Checchinato (Treviso), Silvio Orlando (Treviso), Simon Picone (Treviso), Manuel Dallan (Treviso), Nicola Mazzucato (Calvisano).