Azzuri suffer midfield blow

Italian centre Gonzalo Canale has torn muscles in his right thigh and will miss all three his country's upcoming Tests.

The Italian Rugby Federation said in a statement Canale was injured during training ahead of Saturday's game with Tonga in Brescia and will be out for three weeks.

Italy then face the World Cup champion All Blacks in Rome's Stadio Olimpico on November 17, and Australia in Florence the following weekend.

A replacement for Canale was not immediately announced.

The Argentine-born Canale has 77 caps for Italy.

AP