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Italy

Casualties as Conor O'Shea confirms 31-man Italy Rugby World Cup squad

By Ian Cameron

18 Aug 2019

Ian McKinley in Six Nations action for Italy. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Conor O’Shea has named his 31-man Italy Rugby World Cup squad for Japan – and there are some significant casualties.

Yesterday Italy walloped future Rugby World Cup Pool rivals Russia 85 – 15, which places second behind a 104-8 hammering of the Czech Republic in 1994 as the Azzurri’s biggest ever victory.

Former Leinster star Ian McKinley didn’t make the cut in a team that includes two fly-halves – Carlo Canna and Tomasso Allan.

There’s no room for backrows Jimmy Tuivaiti, Giovanni Licata, nor is there space for centre Marco Zanon or wing Angelo Esposito – among others.

Sergio Parisse is set to equal the record for the most Rugby World Cups appearances after he was selected for what will be his fifth tournament.

Italy squad for Rugby World Cup

Props

Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby)

Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby Club)

Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Rugby)

Nicola Quaglio (Benetton Rugby)

Marco Riccioni (Benetton Rugby)

Federico Zani (Benetton Rugby)

Hookers

Luca Bigi (Zebre Rugby Club)

Oliviero Fabiani (Zebre Rugby Club)

Leonardo Ghiraldini (Unattached)

Locks

Dean Budd (Benetton Rugby)

Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby)

David Sisi (Zebre Rugby Club)

Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Rugby)

Backrow

Maxime Mbanda ‘(Zebre Rugby Club)

Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby)

Sergio Parisse (Toulon) – captain

Jake Polledri (Gloucester)

Abraham Steyn (Benetton Rugby)

Scrumhalves

Callum Braley (Gloucester)

Guglielmo Palazzini (Zebre Rugby Club)

Tito Tebaldi (Benetton Rugby)

Flyhalves

Tommaso Allan (Benetton Rugby)

Carlo Canna (Zebre Rugby Club)

Centres

Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Rugby)

Michele Campagnaro (Harlequins)

Luca Morisi (Benetton Rugby)

Back three

Mattia Bellini (Zebre Rugby Club)

Giulio Bisegni (Zebre Rugby Club)

Jayden Hayward (Benetton Rugby)

Matteo Minozzi (Wasps)

Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby Club)

England Head Coach Eddie Jones said Wales was a brilliant World Cup warm-up after his side lost at the Principality Stadium. England suffered a 21-13 loss to Wales as both teams’ prepare for the Rugby World Cup that starts next month in Japan.

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Comments on RugbyPass

dw 2 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

There are a few Aussie players with trophies in recent years..but yes most of them won overseas. Arnold, same etc

123 Go to comments

CD older/wiser 3 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

I believe everyone is debating the wrong penalty. The penalty that should/needs to be discussed is the earlier five metre penalty not taken from on or behind the five metre line, but, deliberately at least over half a metre in front. Right under the Officials nose. Should have been at the very least a reversed free kick to Australia.

123 Go to comments

NB 4 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

Even at his advanced age JTA would be useful as a scrum ‘mentor’.

123 Go to comments

NB 5 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

First Nations game suggested otherwise. BPA and TT took the Lions scrum to the cleaners.

123 Go to comments

dw 5 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

Let’s hope that was his last one of entering on wrong side

123 Go to comments

NB 5 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

And it’s all propaganda dressed up as ‘concern for the laws of the game’ JW.

If a guy is supposed to have suffered a serious head/neck blow it’s an automatic HIA. Any sign of potential head injury or concussion - as per Tizzano’s reaction - demands one.

The fact that has not happened and he’s available to play seven days later means it is a propaganda exercise.

123 Go to comments

dw 6 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

The forwards seemed to grow in confidence with him there

123 Go to comments

dw 7 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

Still useful but we probably need thps more

123 Go to comments

NB 9 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

There were a few tankers indeed P/S! They just took far too long to make him first choice.

123 Go to comments

NB 10 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

Steve Tandy is a solid pair of hands - honest to a fault and a straight talker.

He will improve the Wales D for sure, more doubts about the attack unless he can get someone like Sherratt involved.

123 Go to comments

Mitch 10 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

Do you think that the Wallabies will continue to improve in the Rugby Championship? Two tests away in South Africa could make them or break them. I guess how the third Lions test goes will be key.

I don’t see a Wallabies win in Sydney. Saturday in Melbourne broke them emotionally. Ellis Park will be a bloodbath. The match in Cape Town could be closeish depending on the weather.

123 Go to comments

Wayneo 11 minutes ago

How headbutt moments forged the Ackermann father-son dynamic

Koppestamp translates to bumping heads not butting heads.

It’s a game / rugby drill played within the 15m wide tram lines.

Can be fun, especially if you’re a Kolbe and can step props into another dimension.

3 Go to comments

JW 12 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

No ruck Nick, all he’s required to do is get behind the player, which does if not for a leg stopping him getting around.

He could step over the player entirely and he’d still be OK.

123 Go to comments

JW 15 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

That’s true, I can’t believe Rassie came up with the ridiculous things he did in that video. Crazy.

Yes only a glancing blow on the skcull. They were only worried of the neck during the game. The head whiplash things only really pertinent to contact point. I mean he automatic reaction to milk it, so it must have been working right lol

123 Go to comments

Perthstayer 18 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

NB - How good was Jac interviewd in the crowd yapping away with his Welsh brethren. He is a legitmate beacon of hope for them. Love to know your thoughts on Tandy, more I read the better I feel

123 Go to comments

JW 20 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

Of course they can, TT has no better form than them. Probably worse lol

123 Go to comments

JW 21 minutes ago

'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

Wing is the only spot with the injury then.