Italy’s already miserable season deteriorated further yesterday when Mauro Bergamasco was suspended for 13 weeks for gouging in the 47-8 defeat by Wales last Saturday. Bergamasco, the Stade Français flanker, was found guilty of “deliberately placing his finger” in Lee Byrne’s right eye during the match at the Millennium Stadium. The Wales full back, who this week signed a new four-year contract with Llanelli Scarlets, was unhurt.

Bergamasco’s ban starts on Monday and runs until June 2, affecting not only Italy’s remaining RBS Six Nations Championship matches, with France and Scotland, but also the climax of the French championship.

Before the next, and pivotal, game in Dublin against Ireland on Saturday week, Warren Gatland, the Wales head coach, has released nine of his 29-strong squad to play for their regions or clubs this weekend, including Dwayne Peel, despite the scrum half needing the all-clear from a consultant neurosurgeon, whom he was consulting last night. Peel was hurt during the game against Italy, but is desperate to play for the Scarlets in their Magners League match against Ulster tomorrow evening.

Peel asked to be released because he believes that he needs more game time to hold off Michael Phillips for the No 9 shirt. “It’s another chance for him to show the coaches what he is capable of, while Alun-Wyn Jones will also feature for the Ospreys this weekend and is another player hoping to play himself into contention for the trip to Ireland,” Gatland said.

After the defeat by England, Marc Lièvremont continues his revolving-door policy as France prepare to meet Italy. The coach has made eight changes in his 22-man squad and included five uncapped players – Fab-ien Barcella (Auch), a prop, Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), a hooker, Ibrahim Diarra (Montauban), a flanker, Julien Tomas (Montpellier), a scrum half, and Yann David (Bourgo-in), a centre.

Lièvremont said: “Our motivation was to continue to test new players, to keep on widening our group of players,” he said. The coach has, however, also seen fit to recall two experienced internationals in Yannick Jauzion and Imanol Harinordoquy, as well as Julien Malzieu, the Clermont Auvergne wing, who made his debut against Scotland this month.

Six players who began the 24-13 defeat by England, Cédric Heymans, Morgan Parra, Thierry Dusautoir, Lionel Faure, Julien Bonnaire and David Marty, drop out. David Skrela and William Servat have also been omitted from the 22.

France squad

To play Italy at the Stade de France on March 9 Forwards: F Barcella (Auch), I Diarra (Montauban), G Guirado (Perpignan), N Mas (Perpignan), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), L Nallet (Castres, captain), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier), P Papé (Stade Français), L Picamoles (Montpellier), J-B Poux (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Français), J Thion (Biarritz). Backs: V Clerc (Toulouse), Y David (Bourgoin), A Floch (Clermont Auvergne), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), J Tomas (Montpellier), D Traille (Biarritz), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Yachvili (Biarritz).