Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has made
only one change for Saturday's game against Wales at the
Olimpico from the side that lost 31-19 against Scotland at
Murrayfied last week after threatening a comeback.
The Argentine coach has brought in Niccolò Cannone into the
second row in place of Dino Lamb.
The Azzurri are fancied to repeat last year's 24-21 win over the
Welsh in Cardiff although Warren Gatland's men will be eager to
show their 43-0 demolition by France in Paris was not a true
reflection of their form.
Quesada has also opted for continuity on the bench, with Jacopo
Trulla the only new addition to the list in place of Simone Gesi
and the confirmation of the list of substitutes made up of six
forwards and two three-quarters.
On the pitch, there is full confirmation for the expanded
triangle Allan-Capuozzo-Ioane, while in the centre the duo
Brex-Menoncello reaches 18 test matches together.
The scrumhalf and flyhalf roles are again entrusted to Paolo
Garbisi and Page-Relo, while in the third row Michele Lamaro
will be captain of the Azzurri for the 34th time and for this he
will join Marco Bollesan in the ranking of athletes who have led
Italy on the pitch the most times.
Lamaro will be in the department together with number eight
Lorenzo Cannone and Sebastian Negri.
The second row will be Benetton branded with the two veterans
Federico Ruzza and Lamb, while the first row in turn has
consolidated international experience with Ferrari, Nicotera and
Fischetti. Ready to come off the bench are Lucchesi, Rizzoli -
who after his debut at Murrayfield could collect his first
appearance on the home turf of the Olimpico like Lamb.
This is the Italian XV against Wales: 15 Allan, 14 Capuozzo, 13
Brex, 12 Menoncello, 11 Ioane, 10 P. Garbisi, 9 Page Relo, 8 L.
Cannone, 7 Lamaro, 6 Negri, 5 Ruzza. 4 N.Cannone, 3 Ferrari, 2
Nicotera, 1 Fischetti.
Replacements: Riccioni, Zuliani, Vintcent, Lamb, Alessandro
Garbisi and Jacopo Trulla.
Having lost to the Scots, the Azzurri are unlikely to replicate
last year's best ever performance with two wins over Scotland
and Wales and a dramatic draw with France which but for the
width of a post would have been an historic win on French soil.
Quesada's men thus avoided the wooden spoon for the first time
in 15 years.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
