Azzurri forced to change for Welsh showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Tommaso Allan will replace star Ange Capuozzo for Italy’s Six Nations match with Wales on Saturday.
The Toulouse fullback has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a nagging shoulder injury.
France-born Capuozzo will miss Italy’s final two matches against the Welsh and Scotland after picking up the injury during the Azzurri’s loss to Ireland a fortnight ago.
Capuozzo, 23, has been one of the stars of the tournament for improved Italy, who have impressed despite losing all three of their games so far.
Harlequins’ Allan replacing Capuozzo is the only change by Italy coach Kieran Crowley to the team that started against the Irish as Italy do battle with bottom team Wales to avoid yet another wooden spoon.
Italy: 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Edoardo Padovani, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Pierre Bruno, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Edoardo Iachizzi, 20 Giovanni Pettinelli, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Luca Morisi.
Date: Saturday, March 11
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 15.15 (14.15 UK time & GMT)
Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Chris Busby (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
