Brex is back to face England
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy’s coach Gonzalo Quesada has confirmed the same pack that faced France two weeks ago, which has now become a cornerstone of the side, for their Six Nations round four clash with England on Saturday.
However, there are three changes in the backline.
The first is at half-back, where the brother duo of Paolo and Alessandro Garbisi will start together. Alessandro famously scored a try two years ago in the narrow defeat to the Red Rose in the capital.
The “Brexoncello” centre partnership is reunited with the return of Juan Ignacio “Nacho” Brex, following a two-week break for family reasons. He links back up with 2024’s Player of the Championship, Tommaso Menoncello.
The final and perhaps most significant change sees Lorenzo Pani start at fullback. He is preferred over both Leonardo Marin and the returning Tommaso Allan (both on the bench) to cover for the injured Ange Capuozzo at the back.
Also on the bench, Alessandro Fusco provides backline cover in a 5-3 split. In the forwards, Muhamed Hasa and Tommaso Di Bartolomeo return as front-row replacements.
Italy: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Michele Lamaro,5 Andrea Zambonin,4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti, caps
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Federico Ruzza,20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Tommaso Allan
Date: Saturday, March 7
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 17.40 (16.40 GMT; 16.40 UK time)
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (France) & Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
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