UPDATE: Italy star to miss England clash
TEAM NEWS: Ange Capuozzo will miss Italy’s Six Nations opener with England with gastroenteritis, the Italian rugby federation announced on Friday.
Capuozzo, who is Italy’s star man, was selected at right wing by Gonzalo Quesada but will be replaced by Lorenzo Pani for the clash at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome with Bayonne centre Federico Mori coming on to the bench.
A shoulder injury also means that Treviso flank Edoardo Iachizzi, who was named as a replacement, will miss out, making way for uncapped clubmate Alessandro Izekor to take his place.
France-born Capuozzo has been key to Italy’s attack and his absence will be a big blow for the Italians ahead of Quesada’s debut in the Azzurri dugout.
Italy lost all five of their matches at last year’s Six Nations, collecting their eighth consecutive wooden spoon.
They were knocked out of the World Cup at the pool stage after being heavily beaten by France and New Zealand.
Italy – revised: 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Lorenzo Pani, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Edoardo Iachizzi, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Federico Mori.
Date: Saturday, February 3
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 15.15 (14.15 UK & Ireland time; 14.15 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
#PREVIEW: A look at the @SixNationsRugby opener between @Federugby and @EnglandRugby
– Can Italy shock England?
-How will England cope without Owen Farrell? #rugby #SixNations #ITAvENG https://t.co/23aVPL6HWN— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) February 2, 2024
