Perugini adds more beef to Italy pack
Italy coach Nick Mallett has made three changes to his side ahead of what is likely to be a physical encounter with Fiji in Saturday’s Test match in Modena.
Italy went down fighting bravely 32-14 against the Wallabies last week and will have been delighted with their powerful scumming that has Australia on the back foot in the set pieces.
Andrea Masi takes up a place on the right wing in a direct switch with Tommaso Benvenuti who drops onto the bench.
On the side of the scrum there is a change as Robert Barbieri comes into the line-up in the No. 7 jersey, with veteran Alessandro Zanni switching to No.6 and Paul Derbyshire taking up a spot on the pine.
The final changes is in the must talked about front row, where Salvatore Perugini comes in at loosehead prop, with Andrea Lo Cicero on the bench. Perugini earns his 70th cap for Italy, becoming the seventh player to do so.
Mallett has stuck with the inexperience halfback pairing of Edoardo Gori and Luciano Orquera, who will be hoping to lead the Azzurri towards a bright future..
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Masi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (Captain), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Santiago Dellape, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Tommaso Benvenuti.
Date: Saturday, November 27
Venue: Stadio Braglia, Modena
Kick-off: 14.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Christophe Berdos (France), James Jones (Wales)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
