Italy still without key playmaker as Crowley reveals team for England clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Paolo Garbisi will miss Italy’s Six Nations clash with England this weekend as the Montpellier flyhalf continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered at the start of the year.
Garbisi, 22, had been named in the 30-man squad for Italy’s first two matches in the tournament against France and England.
But he was again left out of Kieran Crowley’s team for Sunday’s trip to Twickenham as he was for the clash with Les Bleus.
Crowley has made two changes to the team which suffered a narrow home defeat to France last weekend that highlighted the progress the Azzurri have made under him.
They came back from 6-19 down to briefly lead the Six Nations titleholders and World Cup favourites France before eventually losing 24-29 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
England meanwhile fell to a 23-29 Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland last weekend.
Edoardo Padovani replaces Pierre Bruno at right wing while Saracens prop Marco Riccioni starts in the front row instead of Simone Ferrari.
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Edoardo Padovani, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Tommaso Menoncello, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Edoardo Iachizzi, 20 Jake Polledri, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Pierre Bruno.
Date: Sunday, February 12
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 15.00 (15.00 GMT; 16.00 Italy time)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Tual Trainini (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
