Italy's seven minute demolition of Scotland in this year's Six Nations will serve as incentive for them ahead of meeting Frank Hadden's side in their final game of Pool B. Though Murrayfield will host two Scottish games, they face Italy in Saint-Etienne, far from the sanctuary of Edinburgh.

The smart money is on this being a battle for second-place behind the All Blacks and a meeting with the winner of Ireland's group of death. This may be a bridge too far for the Azzurri but a first appearance in the knock-out stages is realistic aim for Frenchman Pierre Berbizier and his squad.

• Sergio Parisse
  Included in most 'Team of the Six Nations' selections, Parisse is blessed with an astonishing array of skills. A player with great international experience, Parisse is also coming off a great season in the French Top 14. Having made his senior debut in 2002, the versatile backrow immediately became an important player and has now won 42 caps. The Stade Francais number eight is notable for his gladiator spirit and never say die attitude on the pitch. He will certainly be one of the Azzurri players to watch in France.
• Marco Bortolami
  Bortolami, Italian rugby’s figurehead, would have taken one look at his country’s qualifying pool — and then immediately targeted a quarter-final place. While Pool C contains tournament favourites the All Blacks, considerably lesser challenges in Scotland, Romania and Portugal also await Bortolami and company. He is wonderfully athletic, mobile and so often the focal point of Italy's excellent forward play. With the Gloucester lock spearheading their bid, it could prove a tournament for Italy to savour.
• Mauro Bergamasco
  Flanker Mauro Bergamasco is part of the spine of Berbizier’s team. The Stade Francais man is widely accepted as one of Italy’s few world-class performers. He has made massive strides in recent years and in the last Six Nations campaign he scored a vital try in the dying minutes against Wales at the Flaminio Stadium for a 23-20 win. The hugely mobile flanker is no stranger to backline either, having played on the wing earlier in his career.

• Forwards
  Matias Aguero, Robert Barbieri, Mauro Bergamasco, Valerio Bernabo', Marco Bortolami (capt.), Martin Castrogiovanni, Carlo Antonio del Fava, Santiago Dellape', Carlo Festuccia, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea lo Cicero, Fabio Ongaro, Sergio Parisse, Salvatore Perugini, Josh Sole, Manoa Vosawai, Alessandro Zanni.
• Backs
  Mirco Bergamasco, David Bortolussi, Gonzalo Canale, Pablo Canavosio, Roland de Marigny, Ezio Galon, Paul Griffen, Andrea Masi, Ramiro Pez, Matteo Pratichetti, Kaine Robertson, Marko Stanojevic, Alessandro Troncon.