Italy v France, Six Nations, Stadio Flaminio, March 12
Derbyshire fit for Italy comeback
ESPNscrum Staff
March 9, 2011
Paul Derbyshire is fit to return for Italy © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Mirco Bergamasco | Paul Derbyshire
Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations
Teams: France | Italy

Italy flanker Paul Derbyshire has declared himself fit to face France in Rome on Saturday.

The Benetton Treviso back-rower has recovered from the thigh injury that kept him out of the Azzurri's opening three games of the Six Nations, losses to Ireland, England and Wales.

"I am well," Derbyshire said. "I am working on being ready if [Italy coach] Nick Mallett wants to use me throughout Saturday's game. I am physically 100%. I have only taken a little bit of time to find the rhythm with the squad considering I have not played for Italy since the November Tests."

Winger Mirco Bergamasco, who had an off day with the boot as Wales scraped home two weeks ago, has called on his team-mates to put aside their previous failures.

"We have to approach this game in the right way," Bergamasco said. "We are not thinking of our past games. We are just focusing on the task at hand in order to prepare for the game against France."

Bergamasco, who plays his club rugby in Paris with Racing Metro, will face some of his Racing team-mates this weekend, including controversial No.8 Sebastien Chabal and lock Lionel Nallet.

"It's not something I'm thinking about," he said. "They will be my rivals on Saturday. I expect a very difficult match and we will have to impose our rhythm from the start."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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