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O'Shea makes changes for France 6 Nations clash
By Nicholas McGee
Italy coach Conor O'Shea has recalled George Biagi into the squad to face France in the Natwest 6 Nations, with Renato Giammarioli, Giovanni Licata and Giulio Bisegni also drafted in.
The Azzurri have been thumped 46-15 by England and 56-19 by Ireland in the first two matches of the tournament
O'Shea's side will look to pull off an upset in Paris a week on Friday and have opted to bring back lock Biagi and flanker Giammarioli, who both featured against England but missed the match in Dublin.
Flanker Licata last played against South Africa in November, while centre Bisegni has not made an appearance since Italy's 2017 Six Nations loss to England in February of that year.
Full-back Edoardo Padovani is still out with an ankle injury.
Italy squad:
Forwards: Luca Bigi, Dean Budd, Oliviero Fabiani, Simone Ferrari, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti, Maxime Mbanda, Sebastian Negri, Sergio Parisse (captain), Tiziano Pasquali, Nicola Quaglio, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, Abraham Steyn, Alexander Zanni.
Backs: Tomasso Allan, Mattia Bellini, Tomasso Benvenuti, Tomasso Boni, Carlo Canna, Tomasso Castello, Edoardo Gori, Jayden Hayward, Ian McKinley, Matteo Minozzi, Marcello Violi.
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Latest Comments
The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
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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