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Italy name their team to face Scotland
By Online Editors
Italy coach Franco Smith has named an unchanged side to face Scotland in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday in Rome.
Buoyed by the Italians’ resilience in their 22-35 round two defeat to France in Paris, the interim head coach has kept faith with the same starting XV and has made just a single change to his bench.
Replacement Marco Lazzaroni comes in for Federico Ruzza in a reversal of the bench swop that occurred for the Stade de France match.
“We have shown improvements against France. We want to make an important performance in front of our fans at the Stadio Olimpico showing everyone our game and our true potential,” said Smith.
The back three consists of Jayden Hayward and the two Padovans - Mattia Bellini and Matteo Minozzi - on the wing. Luca Morisi and Carlo Canna make up the midfield while the half-backs are Tommaso Allan and Callum Braley.
Smith’s back row is Abraham Steyn, Sebastian Negri and Jake Polledri. Rookie Niccolo Cannone maintains his fledgeling second row partnership with Alessandro Zanni, while captain Luca Bigi joins Giosue Zilocchi and Andrea Lovotti in the front row.
ITALY (vs Scotland, Saturday)
15 Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
14 Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 24 caps)
13 Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 31 caps)*
12 Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 41 caps)
11 Matteo MINOZZI (Wasps Rugby, 18 caps)*
10 Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 56 caps)
9 Callum BRALEY (Gloucester Rugby, 7 caps)
8 Abraham STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 38 caps)
7 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
6 Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, 15 caps)
5 Niccolò CANNONE (Argos Petrarca Rugby/Benetton Rugby,2 caps)*
4 Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Rugby, 118 caps)
3 Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Rugby Club, 4 caps)*
2 Luca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 26 caps) - capt
1 Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 42 caps)*
Replacements:
16 Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby 15 caps)
17 Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 2 caps)*
18 Marco RICCIONI (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps)*
19 Marco LAZZARONI (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)*
20 Dean BUDD (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)
21 Giovanni LICATA (Zebre Rugby Club, 10 caps)*
22 Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 38 caps)
23 Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre Rugby Club, 15 caps)
WATCH: Jim Hamilton and Darren Cave give their predictions for Saturday's Stadio Olimpico clash
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Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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