Welsh-born scrum-half Stephen Varney returns to the Italy team to face Wales after missing the Ireland game with an injury in the warm-up.

Also in are wing Mattia Bellini, props Danilo Fischetti and Giosue Zilocchi, and lock Niccolo Cannone.

Gloucester's Varney made his first start for Italy against Wales in Llanelli in December and kept the shirt for the first two Six Nations games.

Italy, coached by former South Africa fly-half Franco Smith, have conceded more than 40 points in each of their matches so far, against France, England and Ireland.

Scrum-half Marcello Violi, utility back Edoardo Padovani, and hooker Oliviero Fabiani come onto the bench with Andrea Lovotti, Marco Riccioni and Marco Lazzaroni dropping down from the starting team.

Italy have not won in the Six Nations since their 22-19 victory in Scotland in 2015.

Wales won 38-18 in the Autumn Nations and 42-0 in their last Six Nations meeting, but the Azzurri held Wales to a 26-15 scoreline on their last trip to Rome.

"We've given Italy huge respect, they've threatened throughout the Six Nations and they've improved," said Wales centre Jonathan Davies, who was captain on Wales' 2019 visit to the Stadio Olympico.

"They have threats at nine and 10, we totally expect to be under the pump at times, but it's about how we react.

"They're looking to play with their heads up and look for mis-matches, so we've got to identify their threats and keep to our structure."

Italy: Jacopo Trulla; Mattia Bellini, Juan Ignacio Brex, Carlo Canna, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney: Danilo Fischetti, Luca Bigi (capt), Giosue Zilocchi, Niccola Cannone, David Sisi, Sebastian Negri, Johan Meyer, Michele Lamaro.

Replacements: Oliviero Fabiani, Andrea Lovotti, Marco Riccioni, Marco Lazzaroni, Maxime Mbanda, Marcello Violi, Federico Mori, Edoardo Padovani.

Powerhouse centre Virimi Vakatawa is back in France's starting XV to face England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Elsewhere Teddy Thomas replaces the injured Gabin Villiere on the wing while Romain Taofifenua comes into the second row in place of Bernard le Roux.

Dylan Cretin is promoted ahead of Anthony Jelonch in the back row while Romain Ntamack is on the bench.

Ntamack is making his return after suffering a fractured jaw in December.

Matthieu Jalibert, who performed well in an under-strength France's Autumn Nations Cup final defeat against England last year, keeps his place at fly-half, and partners superstar scrum-half Antoine Dupont.

The match will be France's first since their 15-13 win over Ireland in Dublin on 14 February.

An outbreak of Covid-19 in the squad caused their match against Scotland - scheduled for 28 February - to be postponed.

France: Dulin; Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou, Penaud; Jalibert, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Haouas; Taofifenua, Willemse; Cretin, Ollivon (capt), Alldritt.

Replacements: Chat, Gros, Aldegheri, Cazeaux, Woki, Jelonch, Serin, Ntamack.

Max Malins will make his first start for England after being named at full-back for Saturday's Six Nations match with France at Twickenham.

Experienced duo Elliot Daly and Jamie George drop to the bench, as does lock Jonny Hill.

Centre Ollie Lawrence is also included in the matchday squad of 23.

England's title defence is all but over after losses to Scotland and Wales, while France are hoping to get their Grand Slam bid back on track after a coronavirus outbreak in camp.

"We are of course disappointed that we can't defend the championship, but that makes this an even more important game," said head coach Eddie Jones.

"We want to show what we are capable of."

Anthony Watson, who scored a try in the 40-24 defeat in Cardiff, wins his 50th cap on the right wing, and lines up alongside Jonny May and Malins in the back three.

In the forwards, Cowan Dickie makes just his fifth start for his country, joining experienced props Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola in the front row.

Ewels partners Maro Itoje at lock, with an unchanged back row of Mark Wilson, Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola.

Grand-Slam chasing France are unbeaten in the tournament so far, but have not played in a month after a coronavirus outbreak forced the postponement of their round-three fixture against Scotland.

"The squad have competed really hard in training since Sunday," added Jones.

"I believe this is the best 23 to really take the game to France and get us on the front foot."

'Dangerous' Malins gets chance

Daly has been Jones' preferred full-back since 2018, but the 28-year-old has struggled to find his best form in the tournament so far.

His demotion to the replacements has given Malins the chance to start, having made his England debut in November.

The versatile back has been in eye-catching form for Bristol, where he is currently on loan from Saracens.

England captain Owen Farrell described Malins as a "dangerous player" while head coach Jones told BBC Sport he had always seen the full-back as "a player of promise".

"His training form week by week has got better and better," Jones continued. "We feel like he's ready to be the starting full-back.

"He's got good acceleration, he's courageous and he's got a good feel for the game."

'We try to balance historic and present form' - Jones

Although Saracens hooker George has been benched for the second time this championship, Jones said the forward "was much closer to himself" in the Wales game.

Cowan-Dickie started England's win against Italy and takes George's place in the XV once again as Jones looks to freshen up his underperforming side.

Some fans may have wished for a greater number of changes given recent defeats but the England coach said the side is in a "transitional period" which he is hoping to navigate by blending the experience in the squad with younger players.

For Jones, it is not as simple as purely picking those who are currently playing well.

"Form dictates everything but there are two types of form," he said.

"There's historic form and present form. For some players, they get more because their historic form has been good. We try to get that balance right.

"Results are important but not the be all and end all. As an England side we're expected to win every game and we want to win every game but at the same time there is a responsibility to develop a team for the 2023 World Cup."

England team to play France

England: Malins; Watson, Slade, Farrell, May; Ford, Youngs; M Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Itoje, Ewels, Wilson, Curry, B Vunipola.

Replacements: George, Genge, Stuart, Hill, Earl, Robson, Lawrence, Daly.

TUSCUMBIA, Ala. – The United Sprint Car Series Winter Heat weekend at North Alabama Speedway on March 12-13 has been trimmed to a Saturday-only program due to several recent scheduling conflicts in the area.

Joining the USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour presented by K&N Filters winged sprint cars on the racing card will be the CRUSA Late Models, CRUSA Late Model Sportsman, and the CRUSA Modified Sportsman classes, as well as the Factory Stock, Mini Stock and Buzz divisions.

Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing action kicking off at 6 p.m.

TOOELE, Utah – Bridget Burgess and BMI Racing announced Thursday a sponsorship agreement with HMH Construction that will allow the team to compete during the full ARCA Menards Series West season.

The Australian family-run team is based at Utah Motorsports Campus in Tooele, Utah, and gained recognition last year with the unique mother/daughter team, and running a 2007 chassis loaned to them by Bill McAnally.

This work ethic by the family is what caught the attention of John Odom, CEO of HMH Construction.

“The team at HMH Construction and I are proud to be partnered with this great team and we are excited to see what Bridget can do this year and, in the future, behind the wheel,’ Odom said.

Burgess’ first race kicks of the year is this Friday at Phoenix Raceway.

ANDERSON, Ind. – Brady Bacon has entered the 73rd annual Pay Less Little 500 presented by UAW at the quarter-mile Anderson Speedway with Hoffman Auto Racing.

It’s a reunion of sorts between Bacon and Rob Hoffman, who will serve as Bacon’s crew chief and owner for the 500-lap non-winged sprint car classic.

The pairing won two USAC National Sprint Car Series championships together (2014, ’16) and all three of Bacon’s USAC sprint car titles have come aboard the Hoffman No. 69.

Hoffman returns to turning the wrenches after retiring from full-time crew chief duties in 2017. Over the winter, Hoffman built his own pavement sprint car chassis with one race in mind, the Little 500.

“I don’t like to sit back and watch,” said Hoffman. “I built our first pavement chassis in the 1980’s named Genesis. It was practically a Gambler (Chassis) copy that we transformed from the dirt car into a pavement sprint car.”

Hoffman Auto Racing then partnered with Rich Vogler, who brought his V6 Buick to the team. The team then scored their first USAC National Sprint Car Series championship in 1989.

Hoffman’s experience building chassis now returns to the present day as he prepares his eighth chassis to compete in the Pay Less Little 500.

“I was looking for a way to get back into racing,” said Hoffman. “The Little 500 being one event a year is the perfect situation for me. I am excited to have Brady (Bacon) drive the car. He has great talent that will keep him out of trouble.”

Bacon has made four starts at Anderson between USAC midget and USAC sprint car racing. His best finish came in 2008 during the ninth annual Glen Niebel Classic, where he finished eighth.

Bacon will attempt to become the first driver to compete in the Little 500 from the state of Oklahoma. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native has won 35 USAC National Sprint Car Series races and three USAC national championships.

The challenge? Bacon will compete in a race he has never witnessed in person.

“I have raced at Anderson Speedway before, but I have never been to the Little 500,” he explained. “Our goal is go and win. The mental aspect of the race I think is going to be the most grueling part. There are many different layers to the race.”

Hoffman Auto Racing has competed in the Little 500 on five previous occasions. They competed in 2005 and 2006 with Tracy Hines, 2014 with Bryan Clauson, 2016 with Kody Swanson, and 2017 with Tony Stewart.

The team won their first Little 500 with Kody Swanson in 2016.

Bacon’s week of Indy schedule will be rather grueling. He will race his non-winged sprint car at Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track on Wednesday night, a dirt USAC Silver Crown car on Thursday night for the for the Hoosier Hundred and the Little 500 on Saturday.

Bacon and wife Xia Xianna have also taken on the task of promoting multiple races a year. They will promote the T-Town Midget Showdown at Oklahoma’s Port City Raceway in April, as well as the USAC Silver Crown race at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway on May 9.

CONCORD, N.C. – Chase Elliott is adding dirt late model racing to his growing list of racing disciplines.

Elliott revealed Wednesday that he plans to compete in the Bristol Dirt Nationals on March 15-20 behind the wheel of a dirt late model.

NEXT UP:

Bristol Dirt Nationals:
USAC Midget: ✅
Rolex 24: ✅
Chili Bowl: ✅@BMSupdates @BristolDirt #A_SHOCenergy pic.twitter.com/WRlK4qNzUu

— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) March 10, 2021

He joins a stacked list of NASCAR competitors planning to use the Bristol Dirt Nationals to prepare for the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race, which is scheduled for March 28. Others planning to compete in one of the many classes during the Bristol Dirt Nationals include Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon and Corey LaJoie.

The Food City Dirt Race is the first NASCAR Cup Series event to be held on dirt since 1970.

The addition of the Bristol Dirt Nationals to Elliott’s schedule is the latest in the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion’s efforts to expand his racing endeavors.

After capturing his first NASCAR Cup Series title last year, Elliott competed in the Snowball Derby, the Chili Bowl and the Rolex 24. He also made his USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series debut in February.

According to the Johnson City Press, this is not Elliott’s first time racing a dirt late model. In March of 2013 he raced a dirt late model at Tennessee’s Volunteer Speedway, finishing third.

INDIANAPOLIS — It was Monday morning and social media was abuzz with the wee-hours finish of the Daytona 500.

The Great American Race came to a fiery conclusion with yet another massive crash, wrecking hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment. With the race delayed by rain for nearly six hours, it’s very likely that the television audience was substantially less than when the race began Sunday afternoon, perhaps another historic low.

There was a time when the Daytona 500 broadcast was a red-letter day on the calendar. Ken Squier, Chris Economaki and Ned Jarrett held our undivided attention when they came on the air and held command for the duration of the race.

But things have changed. The racing at Daytona Int’l Speedway is different today and that’s part of the problem. There are two phases of superspeedway racing now: A high-speed freight train with the cars tightly packed, lap after lap; and then the inevitable mayhem with multi-car crashes that take out large portions of the field, usually followed by a red-flag delay to clean up the mess.

After “the big one” came just 15 laps into this year’s race, a rain delay lasting five-hour, 40-minute and 29 seconds rbrought a restart late in the evening and the race finished after midnight on the East Coast. We tuned in for the early portion but didn’t realize the race was restarted, missing all of Sunday night’s action.

For what it’s worth, Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer did a great job in the booth during the portion we watched.

It could be argued that the race should have been pushed to the next day, but perhaps NASCAR’s decision was influenced by a major winter storm that disrupted travel across the nation the day after the 500.

Either way, it was not a good day for the folks at Daytona.

The numbers don’t lie; the television audience for NASCAR — and the Daytona 500 — is nowhere near where it was just a few years ago. According to Sports Media Watch, the television rating for the 2006 Daytona 500 was 11.3 and it has steadily declined ever since. In 2020 it was 4.4, down more than 60 percent from 2006.

But here is some perspective: Every major sport is struggling today to maintain its audience. Ratings for the Super Bowl have declined for nine consecutive years, for example, and across the board numbers aren’t what they were just a few years ago. As noted in a recent analysis on Sports Media Watch, “The big events just do not hit the high notes anymore.”

A great many people at NASCAR — and throughout all major sports, really — are probably wracking their brains to figure out why the Daytona 500 has seen a large portion of its audience disappear and what can be done to to reverse the trend.

Maybe it is complicated; fans will readily bend your ear with opinions on the faults they find with NASCAR racing today.

But maybe it’s not as complicated as we make it.

The number of people watching network television — of any type — is steadily declining. Younger people are playing online games and watching YouTube videos, while middle-aged viewers are streaming programming from a variety of sources. That leaves fewer people watching traditional television.

Streaming technology has impacted the racing audience as well. Twenty years ago, NASCAR — and the Daytona 500 — were huge by every measure. Tickets sold, television audiences soared and sponsors had tremendous clout. But look at what has happened across the entertainment spectrum since that time: A vast number of racing events are now carried live on various television and streaming platforms.

When Squier and the CBS Sports crew came on the air in 1979, the idea of watching live coverage of an auto race was fresh and exciting. But today you can watch racing every night of the week through various streaming services.

That presents a daunting challenge for NASCAR and its broadcast partners: How do you create an aura among your audience that you cannot dare miss this broadcast?

Maybe NASCAR officials can figure out how they can reverse the trend and rebuild their audience. But it seems more likely that we’re witnessing a genuine “correction” and today’s audience is the natural size. It is what it is; and maybe the numbers just are what they are.

The Detroit Red Wings' most recent Stanley Cup championship was 13 years ago, even if their multiyear residency in the NHL's basement makes that memory feel protractedly distant.

There were 23 players who appeared for Detroit in the 2008 playoffs. Twenty of them are retired, with three having been subsequently enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Pavel Datsyuk, 42, is playing in the KHL. Only two of those Red Wings are still playing in today's NHL, and both still with Detroit: centers Valtteri Filppula and Darren Helm.

Filppula bounced around after leaving Detroit as a free agent in 2013, skating with three other teams before returning for the 2019-20 season.

Not Helm. He's been a Detroit lifer.

Darren Helm has seen the best of times: As a rookie, he raised the Stanley Cup as a Red Wing and returned to the Final the following season.

Darren Helm has seen the worst of times: As a veteran, he's watched the franchise strip its roster down to the skate laces for a rebuild that's in its fourth season.

"Those first two years, you were like, 'This is going to be easy.' Good team every year. Making the long playoff run," he told me this week. "But you quickly find out that's not how it is."

Rare is the NHL depth forward who carves out a place on a team for 14 seasons. Rarer is the player who begins at the top of the mountain and then witnesses his team slide down into the abyss.

I asked him a question that I was sure he'd been asked on more than a few occasions, by teammates and friends and maybe even family: What the heck are you still doing with the Red Wings? Specifically, these Red Wings?

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Justin Rose has withdrawn from The Players Championship and will be replaced in the field by Steve Stricker.

Rose cited “personal medical reasons” for the withdrawal.

Stricker was not at TPC Sawgrass when Rose withdrew but he planned to fly from Naples, Fla., to north Florida in time for the 1:11 p.m. ET tee time.

Stricker, 54, has picked up his PGA Tour schedule this year as he prepares to captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team later this fall. The Players will be his fifth Tour start this year, including a tie for fourth last month at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.