Italy eye historic third win as Quesada reshuffles for Wales
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has named his team to face Wales in the final round of the Six Nations, making three changes to the team that beat England in Rome last weekend.
The Azzurri claimed a historic 23-18 victory over Steve Borthwick’s side, but tighthead prop Simone Ferrari has been ruled out after picking up a back injury in that match.
Muhamed Hasa will start in the No.3 jersey as Italy chase another slice of history, a third Six Nations win in a single campaign, when they take on Wales at the Principality Stadium. Giosuè Zilocchi provides cover at tighthead from the bench.
There is also a change in the second row, where Federico Ruzza comes into the starting side to partner Niccolò Cannone, replacing Andrea Zambonin. David Odiase moves to the replacements as a result.
The final alteration comes at scrumhalf, where Alessandro Fusco gets the nod to start ahead of Alessandro Garbisi, while Stephen Varney takes a place among the substitutes.
Italy head into the clash with confidence after winning their last two encounters against Wales, who are desperate to end a 15-match winless run in the Six Nations.
Italy: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza, 6 Michele Lamaro (c), 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 David Odiase, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Tommaso Allan
Date: Saturday, March 14
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 16.40 (17.40 CET; 16.40 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
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