Italy boss makes bench split change to combat Springboks' power
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made just one change to his starting XV for their Nations Series showdown against the Springboks in Turin.
The change is in the front row where Marco Riccioni gets the No.3 jersey with Simone Ferrari dropping to the bench after last weekend’s 26-19 victory over Australia.
The Italians have also opted for a six-two split between forwards and backs on the bench.
Flank David Odiase has been included on the bench to provide more forward cover. It means Leonardo Marin drops out of the matchday squad.
Riccardo Favretto is the other new face on the bench. He replaces Alessandro Izekor.
{rp-mc-game id=”3|946473|2025″][/rp-mc-game]
In terms of a South African connection, Johannesburg-born Ross Vintcent will again wear the No.6 jersey.
Meanwhile, replacement flyhalf Tommaso Allan has represented Western Province at age-group level.
Allan, the nephew of former Scotland and Springbok hooker John Allan, was born in Italy in 1993 whilst his father was playing rugby in the country, but he was schooled in the United Kingdom and capped for Scotland at Under-18 and Under-20 level.
He spent six months with the WP Rugby Institute after finishing his schooling in the UK (in 2011) and then returned to Cape Town for the whole of 2012, which saw him play for the Scotland Under-20 team and the victorious Western Province Under-19 team in the same year.
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (captain), 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Ross Vintcent, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 David Odiase, 22 Martin Page-Relo, 23 Tommaso Allan.
Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin
Kick-off: 13.40 (14.40 SAST; 12.40 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Jérémy Rozier (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
