Crowley makes three changes for Italy's trip to Ireland
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Kieran Crowley on Friday made three changes to his Italy team for their Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin, as the Azzurri again try to end their run of defeats in the competition.
Zebre wing Pierre Bruno gets a second cap in place of Bordeaux-Begles’ Federico Mori while Benetton centre Leonardo Marin will start for the Azzurri for the first time after making his debut as a replacement in their opening 10-37 defeat to France.
Giovanni Pettinelli comes in at blindside flank in place of his Benneton teammate Braam Steyn.
Italy are bottom of the Six Nations standings without a single point to their name after two losses to France and England.
The 0-33 beating by England a fortnight ago in Rome was their 34th straight defeat in the Six Nations, a run which stretches back to 2015.
Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Pierre Bruno, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Montanna Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Giovanni Pettinelli, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Epalahame Faiva, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 David Sisi, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Braam Steyn, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Marco Zanon.
Date: Sunday, February 27
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 15.00 (16.00 Italy time; 15.00 GMT)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
