Les Bleus, who were pre-tournament favourites, suffered a 20-16 defeat to Scotland in their opening game before showing more signs of fragility in beating Ireland 43-31 a week later.

Leading 43-3 after 47 minutes, Laporte's men let the Irish score 28 points in less than 15 minutes and were forced to cling on for the win.

Laporte has made three changes for the Italy clash with Thomas Castaignede making his return to the starting line-up.

Castaignede has recovered from a thigh injury and replaces Christophe Dominici at full-back, with the Stade Francais winger replacing Cedric Heymans - who moves to the bench despite scoring two tries against Ireland.

Damien Traille replaces David Marty at centre while Thomas Lievremont comes in for Julien Bonnaire at number eight. Marty and Bonnaire drop to the bench.

Pascal Pape (ankle), flanker Serge Betsen (cheekbone) and Benjamin Boyet (thigh) are out of the 22-man squad.

Italy coach, Frenchman Pierre Berbizier, who coached France between 1991 and 1995, believes the game will be a test of maturity for his side.

The Italians lost both their opening games, to Ireland (26-16) and then to England (31-16), but Berbizier is convinced his improving outfit can do well against the French.

''We have managed to challenge Ireland and England, it's a shame our efforts did not pay off with a win against the Irish,'' said Berbizier.

France will be tough to play against but I warned my players this will be a maturity test.

Berbizier has drafted Bourgoin lock Carlo-Antonio Del Fava into his first XV for the game.

Del Fava, who replaces the injured Santiago Dellape in the second row, is the first alteration Berbizier has made to his starting line-up in the competition.

Valerio Bernabo had been a possibility to replace Dellape after being called up from the Italy A side, but he has had to settle for a place on the bench.

Also coming into the squad on the replacements bench are utility back Ezio Galon and number eight Alessandro Zanni, with flanker Silvio Orlando and fly-half Rima Wakarua the players to make way.