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Italy name team to face France
By Online Editors
Franco Smith has made just one change to his Italian starting side to face France away on Sunday.
The new Azzurri boss opted not to make wholesale changes following last weekend 42-0 beating at Wales.
His only switch comes at full-back where Jayden Hayward has been promoted from the bench, an inclusion that has resulted in a back three rejig.
Matteo Minozzi, last weekend’s starting full-back, switches to the left wing where the No11 versus Wales, Mattia Bellini, now switches across to No14 with Leonardo Sarto losing his spot and dropping out of the matchday 23.
Giulio Bisegni takes Hayward’s place on the bench while Federico Ruzza steps in for Marco Lazzaroni.
(Continue reading below...)
Freddie Burns discusses the selection issues that England have faced this week
Alessandro Zanni’s selection in the second row will be his 119th Test level appearance, drawing him level with Italy’s second most capped player, Martin Castrogiovanni, in the all-time Italian classification.
"The debut against Wales served as a lesson,” said Smith after unveiling his XV following a full week’s preparation in Paris.
“Let’s look forward now to the work done this week. We are trying to improve our mechanisms and trying to show the best version of ourselves. It will be a tough game on Sunday that we will play with greater awareness.”
ITALY (vs France, Sunday)
15. Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
14. Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 23 caps)
13. Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 30 caps)*
12. Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 40 caps)
11. Matteo MINOZZI (Wasps Rugby, 17 caps)*
10. Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 55 caps)
9. Callum BRALEY (Gloucester Rugby, 6 caps)
8. Abraham STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 37 caps)
7. Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)
6. Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, 14 caps)
5. Niccolò CANNONE (Argos Petrarca Rugby/Benetton Rugby,1 cap)*
4. Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Rugby, 118 caps)
3. Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Rugby Club, 3 caps)*
2. Luca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 25 caps) - captain
1. Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 41 caps)*
Replacements
16. Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby 14 caps)
17. Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 1 cap)*
18. Marco RICCIONI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)*
19. Dean BUDD (Benetton Rugby, 27 caps)
20. Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)*
21. Giovanni LICATA (Zebre Rugby Club, 9 caps)*
22. Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 37 caps)
23. Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre Rugby Club, 14 caps)
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Latest Comments
There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.
Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.
Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.
They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.
Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.
Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen
Go to commentsWas it? I just brought it up in some of my posts to rub it in that the AB last year nearly put 100 on a top 6N side lol
I agree to be honest. The biggest key to me that they might be jadded was none of them had mom performances, or even as good as their last three games.
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