Azzurri ring the changes
Last season’s Six Nations breakthrough star Fabio Semenzato will get his first start for Italy in this season’s competition in place of the injured Edorado Gori against Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The scrumhalf is one of seven changes to the Italian team for the trip to the competition favourites, as French coach Jacques Brunel ripped apart the formation thumped 42-10 by Ireland.
Australian-born Kris Burton takes over from Tobias Botes at flyhalf following the South Africa-born No.10’s erratic performance with the boot against Ireland.
Racing Metro wing Mirco Bergamasco and centre Gonzalo Canale of Clermont both return to the threequarter positions to bring more experience to the team.
In the forwards lock Cornelius van Zyl, another South African, Racing Metro prop Andrea Lo Cicero and flank Simone Favaro all come in.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Luke McLean, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Kris Burton, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Cornelius van Zyl, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D’Apice, 17 Fabio Staibano, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Robert Barbieri, 20 Tobias Botes, 21 Tommaso Benvenuti, 22 Giulio Toniolatti.
Date: Saturday, March 10
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Peter Allan (Scotland)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
AFP
