Italy make 5 changes for Ireland match

Conor O'Shea has announced his team to face Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations in Rom on Sunday.

The Italy head coach has made five changes to the team that lost 26-15 to Wales two weeks ago.

Scrum half Tito Tebaldi, who picked up a knock before Italy's opener with Scotland, returns to the side in place of Guglielmo Palazzani.

Edoardo Padovani, a try scorer against Scotland and Wales, is on the wing.

With Sergio Parisse out because of concussion after picking up a knock while playing for Stade Francais last weekend, Benettton's Abraham Jurgens Steyn moves across from flanker to slot in at number 8.

Maxime Mbanda returns at flanker, making his first Italy appearance since playing Wales in Cardiff last year. His Zebre teammate Jimmy Tuivaiti takes the place of Sebastian Negri.

In the second row it's an all-Benetton affair with Federico Ruzza alongside Dean Budd, with David Sisi dropping to the bench.

Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini takes the captain's armband for the 17th time, he set to pick up his 102nd cap. Alongside him in the front row is Simone Ferrari, while Andrea Lovotti returns after recovering from the flu replacing Nicola Quaglio.

Italy team v Ireland:

15 Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)

14 Edoardo Padovani (ZEBRE Club, 17 caps) *

13 Michele CAMPAGNARO (Wasps, 40 caps) *

12 Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 22 caps) *

11 Angelo ESPOSITO (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)

10 Thomas ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 45 caps)

9 Tito Tebaldi (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)

8 Abraham Jurgens Steyn (Benetton Rugby, 27 caps)

7 Maxime Mbanda '(ZEBRE Club, 15 caps) *

6 Jimmy TUIVAITI (ZEBRE Club, 2 caps)

5 Dean BUDD (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)

4 Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps) *

3 Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 19caps)

2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Stade Toulousian, 101 caps) - Captain

1 Andrea Lovotti (ZEBRE Club, 31caps) *

Replacements

16 Luke BIGI (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)

17 Cherif TRAORE '(Benetton Rugby, 7 caps) *

18 Titian PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 15caps)

19 David SISI (ZEBRE Club, 2 ch)

20 Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Rugby, 109 caps)

21 William PALAZZANI (ZEBRE Club, 30 caps)

22 Ian MCKINLEY (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

23 Thomas CASTLE (ZEBRE Club, 16 caps)

* It is / was a member of the FIR Ivan Francescato