Italy call on experienced heads
Six Nations outsiders Italy have made two changes, bringing in some experience for their historic debut at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico for the visit of England on Saturday.
Coach Jacques Brunel has brought back Marco Bortolami who replaces the South African-born Cornelius Van Zyl at lock and Gonzalo Canale who takes Alberto Sgarbi’s place at inside centre.
There is also extra experience on the bench with flank Mauro Bergamasco recalled in place of Simone Favaro while youngster Luca Morisi is in line to make his debut.
Italy began their Six Nations campaign with a 30-12 defeat to France in Paris last weekend while England squeezed past Scotland 13-6 at Murrayfield.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Gonzalo Canale, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Kris Burton, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D’Apice, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Antonio Pavanello, 19 Mauro Bergamasco, 20 Fabio Semenzato, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Luca Morisi.
Date: Saturday, February 11
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 16.00 GMT
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Neil Paterson (Scotland)
TMO: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
