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Fit-again Ange Capuozzo one of eight Italy changes versus Romania

(Photo by Massimo Insabato ATPImages/Getty Images)

Italy boss Kieran Crowley has made eight changes to his team for this Saturday’s clash with Romania in San Benedetto del Tronto, including the timely recall of the fit-again Ange Capuozzo for his first match in six months.

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The 2022 World Rugby men’s breakthrough player of the year hurt his left shoulder in his country’s Guinness Six Nations match against Ireland last February, but he has timed his rehab perfectly to make it back onto the field just weeks before the Azzurri open their Rugby World Cup campaign versus Namibia in Saint-Etienne on September 9.

The Italians have so far had two Summer Nations Series outings in preparation for the finals, where they will also play Uruguay, New Zealand and France. They were beaten 17-33 in their most recent outing versus Ireland in Dublin on August 5 and head coach Crowley has now named a pack showing five changes.

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Included on this occasion are No8 Toa Halafihi, skipper Michele Lamaro, lock Niccolo Cannone and props Simone Ferrari and Ivan Nemer. Aside from Capuozzo, the backline alterations feature Alessandro Garbisi at scrum-half and Luca Morisi at centre, the latter taking over from the unfortunate Tommaso Menoncello who will miss the World Cup following his bicep Injury in Dublin.

“A new phase of preparation for the World Cup begins for us,” said Crowley ahead of the first of two home matches before the finals. They also play Japan in Treviso on August 26.

Team Form

Last 5 Games

3
Wins
3
1
Streak
1
15
Tries Scored
6
3
Points Difference
5
2/5
First Try
0/5
4/5
First Points
0/5
2/5
Race To 10 Points
1/5

“The one against Romania is the first step of two games – including Japan – which represent a crucial moment of the season for us. Romania is a physical team. We prepared well for the game and we aim to achieve our first win of the summer in front of our fans.”

Italy (vs Romania, Saturday)
15. Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 10 caps)
14. Paolo ODOGWU (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
13. Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
12. Luca MORISI (unattached, 45 caps)
11. Montanna IOANE (Lione, 19 caps)
10. Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 25 caps)
9. Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
8. Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
7. Michele LAMARO (captain, Benetton Rugby, 27 caps)
6. Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 47 caps)
5. Dino LAMB (Harlequins, 1 cap)
4. Niccolo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 31 caps)
3. Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 45 caps)
2. Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
1. Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)

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Replacements:
16. Hame FAIVA (unattached, 6 caps)
17. Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 22 caps)
18. Pietro CECCARELLI (Perpignan, 27 caps)
19. Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 43 caps)
20. Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
21. Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 14 caps)
22. Tommaso ALLAN (Perpignan, 73 caps)
23. Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 2 caps

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AC 36 minutes ago
URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

So I'm going to propose a format, and let me first say 2 things. One, I know why it would never work, why many if not most of the parties involved would not want it. Two, I'm not even sure I'd want it. I'm just going to put it out there, and you all can tell me why it's awful and I'm an idiot.


So, there are 40 teams across the 3 top tier leagues of Europe & Africa. Merge all 3 leagues into a 3 tiered competition with pro/rel, plus a cup competition. Here's how it'd work.


For the league set up, you'd have a top division and second division each with 16 teams. You'd then have a third division of 8 teams. Both Divisions 1 and 2 operate kind of like the URC now in that they are split into 4 groups of 4. In each division, the 4 group winners would play in the playoffs, and the 4 group losers would play in a reverse playoff. In the reverse playoff the two losers of round 1 would then play each other. The loser of that would be automatically relegated, and the winner would play the playoff runner up of the division below for to either stay up, or also be relegated.


Divisions 1 & 2 would each play an 18 match schedule while Division 3 would play a 14 match schedule. Part of the downside of being in Division 3. However, television money would be split equally among all 40 clubs to protect Division 3 clubs from going belly up. Each tier would also have a progressively higher salary cap.


Aside from the league, there'd also be a cup competition. All 40 clubs, regardless of division, would be divided into 8 groups of 5. Each team plays each of their group mates once, for 2 home matches, 2 away matches. Each group winner, plus the next 8 best teams regardless of group, advance to the round of 16 to start knockouts.


This means, every club between the league and cup competitions, would play a minimum of 18 matches (division 3) per season, and a maximum of 28 (if you won the double).


I understand frankly, why many parties involved would be opposed to this, most strongly of course, the French, who really don't need to tinker with their domestic set up at all. Again, I'm not even sure I'd like it in reality. Just a thought I had, wanted to put out there.

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