Benetton Treviso captain Antonio Pavanello has revealed that he can't wait to break his Six Nations duck after he was rewarded for his RaboDirect PRO12 form with a place on the Italy bench.

Franco Smith is forced to make changes to his starting XV to face Leinster for Round 14 of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt believes Treviso provide his side with the perfect challenge of getting back up to speed with the RaboDirect PRO12 at the first time of asking.

Benetton Treviso second row Antonio Pavanello will miss the start of the Six Nations after he was suspended for two weeks for a stamp.

RaboDirect, the straight talking online bank, are partnering up with RTE, Irish broadcasters of the RaboDirect PRO12, for an exclusive LIVE Twitter Q&A with RTE Radio rugby expert, Michael Corcoran.

Jacques Brunel has unveiled his first squad as Italy boss for the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship with Treviso and Aironi dominating the make-up of the 30-man group.

At a disciplinary hearing in Dublin today Simon Picone, the Benetton Treviso back row player, avoided further sanction following his red card in the match against Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday 7 January 2012.

Two Ospreys' players have been cited for foul play following the match versus the Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday 6 January.

A strengthened Munster side gave their RaboDirect PRO12 play-off hopes a shot in the arm with a morale-boosting 29-11 win over Treviso at Thomond Park.

Benetton Treviso is flying early this afternoon (Friday) to Limerick, where they will play against Munster in the 13th game of this RaboDirect PRO12 season.

Treviso might currently find themselves seventh in the RaboDirect PRO12 table just four points off the play-offs but head coach Franco Smith insists they can't rest on their laurels.

Munster director of rugby Tony McGahan has called on his troops to follow captain Paul O'Connell's example ahead of their RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Treviso on Saturday.

The boot of Kris Burton eased Treviso to a comfortable bonus-point victory over Italian rivals Aironi and avenged last Friday's 27-13 defeat at the hands of their compatriots.

There are lots of changes in Benetton Trevio's line-up for Saturday's home game against the Aironi.

Aironi scrum-half Tito Tebaldi has warned his team-mates to beware the wounded beast when they renew hostilities with Treviso on New Year's Eve.

Mauro Bergamasco marked his first game for Aironi with only their second win of the season 27-13 against Italian rivals Benetton Treviso.

Flanker Mauro Bergamasco admits the mind is more than willing even if the body isn't quite - but the fact that his Aironi debut will be against former club and Italian rivals Treviso means he will leave it all on the pitch on Friday.

Dave McSharry's first try in a Connacht shirt was in vain as the Irish side's poor RaboDirect PRO12 form continued with a 15-13 defeat to Benetton Treviso at the Sportsground.

Head coach Eric Elwood is demanding Connacht stop the rot against Benetton Treviso and put an end to the sloppy errors which have resulted in a seven-match losing run in all competitions.

Leinster gained revenge for last season's shock defeat to Treviso with a 30-20 win at the Stadio Monigo to temporarily move top of the RaboDirect PRO12.