Coach Gonzalo Quesada has made five changes to Italy’s starting XV for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against Argentina in Genoa.
The Azzurri are looking to bounce back from their 66-7 defeat to the Springboks in Turin – their fourth loss of the Nations Championship, which has left them bottom of the northern hemisphere standings.
Tommaso Allan returns at fullback in place of Mirko Belloni, with Ange Capuozzo and Monty Ioane retaining their places on the wings.
Paolo Odogwu and Leonardo Marin continue their midfield partnership, while Stephen Varney replaces Alessandro Fusco at scrumhalf alongside flyhalf Paolo Garbisi.
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In the pack, South African Ross Vintcent is promoted from the bench to start at blindside flank, with Manuel Zuliani taking over from Samuele Locatelli on the openside.
Lorenzo Cannone retains the No 8 jersey, while Federico Ruzza and Niccolò Cannone continue in the second row.
Danilo Fischetti is the other new starter, replacing Muhamed Hasa at loosehead prop. Captain Giacomo Nicotera and Simone Ferrari complete the front row.
Quesada has retained a six-two split on the bench, with Hasa, Alessandro Ortombina and Locatelli among those making way in the starting lineup.
Centre Federico Mori returns to the match 23 for the first time in more than two years, joining scrumhalf Alessandro Garbisi as the backline replacements.
ITALY – 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Ross Vintcent, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera (c), 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Bench: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Muhamed Hasa, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, 20 Alessandro Ortombina, 21 Samuele Locatelli, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Federico Mori.
Photo: Nderim Kaceli/Gallo Images
The post Azzurri start Saffa in Los Pumas clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Coach Gonzalo Quesada has made five changes to Italy’s starting XV for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against Argentina in Genoa.
The post Azzurri start Saffa in Los Pumas clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
