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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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Latest Comments
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Nothing to stew son.
Go to commentsTupaea is a natural 12. What is it with you kiwis and playing players out of their positions. Is that some sort of national sport? Is that on purpose? You’ve got an utility back and a winger at 12 and 13 respectivelly. You played Savea at 8 for ages, wasting the potential of one of the world’s three best players in the last 4-5 years.
ALB is equally effective at 12 and 13, so why not have him or Tupaea at 12, and Proctor at 13? God forbid you’d have two midfielders playing at their natural positions! There must be a law in New Zealand, that prohibits that. Small sample size, but Proctor walked on water in his international debut at 13.
But the kiwi selectors seem to love Rieko’s speed, so as long as the horse is fast enough, they decided they’ll teach him to climb trees anyway.
You don’t have a better 10 than BB and Mo’unga. DMac is a more instinctive attacker (almost as good as Mo’unga … almost), but doesn’t have BB’s game-controlling skills. You have and will lose games due to his aimless kicking and spur-of-the-moment inventions none of his team mates are able to read at the international pace. Works okay at Super Rugby level, doesn’t mean it’s transferable to test matches. But hey, suit yourself.
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