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Allan injury forces Italy changes
By Alex Fisher
Tommaso Allan will miss the final two rounds of the Six Nations after suffering a shoulder injury during Italy's defeat to England at Twickenham.
Allan dislocated his shoulder during the second half of Italy's 36-15 defeat and will play no further part in the Azzurri's matches against France and Scotland.
Coach Conor O'Shea has replaced the Treviso fly-half with the uncapped Matteo Minozzi for France's visit to Rome on March 11, the 20-year-old having impressed for Calvisano.
Minozzi is one of four changes to O'Shea's squad for the clash with Luca Sperandio, Federico Ruzza and Dario Chistolini also drafted in.
I trentuno Azzurri di #Italrugby per #ITAvFRA e #SCOvITA.
Appuntamento contro @FFRugby l'11 marzo all'Olimpico! #sosteniamoli pic.twitter.com/XiB3lh9tG2
— Italrugby (@Federugby) March 1, 2017
An injury to Josh Furno sees the uncapped Ruzza handed his chance, while Michele Rizzo has stepped aside for Chistolini following his recovery from a rib injury.
An Italian Rugby Federation statement read: "Tommaso Allan and second row Josh Furno are not available, Allan for the left shoulder injury sustained at Twickenham [which will need 30 days' rest] and Furno will head back to his club due to a persistent muscular issue."
Italy squad:
Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli, Dario Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Andrea Lovotti, Sami Panico, Tommaso D'Apice, Ornel Gega, Leonardo Ghiraldini, George Fabio Biagi, Marco Fuser, Federico Ruzza, Andries Van Schalkwyk, Simone Favaro, Maxime Mbanda', Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Abraham Steyn.
Backs: Giorgio Bronzini, Edoardo Gori, Marcello Violi, Carlo Canna, Matteo Minozzi, Tommaso Benvenuti, Tommaso Boni, Michele Campagnaro, Luke McLean, Giulio Bisegni, Angelo Esposito, Giovambattista Venditti, Edoardo Padovani, Luca Sperandio.
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The prem games this season have mainly been great to watch , with the exception of Sale. So boring and predictable.
Let's have more of Bristol, Bath , Quins etc style of play.
Rugby needs expansive play to put more bums on seats . Not the dirge of rolling forward mauls constantly trying to bully their way over the line.
It has its place yes to draw the defence but the fans want to see more running rugby . Not win at any cost and sod the entertainment .
Go to commentsSo Borthwick should drop Marcus Smith? He's the odd one out, forcing the rest of the English backline into a gameplay they don't know. Replacing him with Fin or Ford makes everyone more likely to succeed.
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