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Italy make one team change and alter bench split to face Wales

09 Mar 2023

(Photo by Danilo Di Giovanni/Getty Images)

Italy boss Kieran Crowley has made one enforced change to his starting team to host Wales this Saturday in Rome following their Guinness Six Nations round three defeat to Ireland. The Azzurri lost out 20-34 at Stadio Olimpico in a very entertaining match and the head coach has kept his changes to a minimum for what is this weekend billed as the wooden spoon decider.

Both the Italians and the Welsh have lost all three matches so far and Crowley has been forced to make one backline change. Injured versus Ireland, Ange Capuozzo will miss the remainder of the championship and his position as the Italy full-back will be taken by Tommaso Allan.

It will be Allan’s 70th Test appearance. He started the championship at out-half in the opening rounds before dropping to the bench when Paolo Garbisi pitched up fit to face the Irish. The only other Italy alternation comes on the bench where Crowley has reconfigured his forwards/backs split.

Against Ireland, the Italy team went with a five/three forwards/backs split but against Wales the will go in with a six/two split as back-rower Manuel Zuliani has been named as an additional pack replacement, taking over the spot that Allan filled on the bench the last day.

“We recovered well from the last game and this week we worked on the areas where we needed to improve. We know the challenge ahead against Wales and we are looking forward to playing. Hopefully we can continue to develop the way we want to play,” said Crowley.

“If you look at Paolo and Menoncello, these guys are 15 kilos of muscle heavier than Ange, but he is absolutely talented…"
– Stephen Aboud on the brilliant Italy youngsters, including Ange Capuozzo @Federugby #ITAvFRA #GuinnessSixNations https://t.co/XHBixzUlce
— liam heagney (@heagneyl) February 5, 2023

Italy team (vs Wales, Saturday – 2:15pm)
15. Tommaso ALLAN (Harlequins, 69 caps)
14. Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 43 caps)
13. Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 21 caps)
12. Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps)
11. Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 10 caps)
10. Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 22 caps)
9. Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 19 caps)
8. Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
7. Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps) – captain
6. Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 43 caps)
5. Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 39 caps)
4. Niccolo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)
3. Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 43 caps)
2. Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
1. Danilo FISCHETTI (London Irish, 28 caps)

Replacements:
16. Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma 45 caps)
17. Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)
18. Marco RICCIONI (Saracens Rugby, 19 caps)
19. Edoardo IACHIZZI (Vannes, 3 caps)
20. Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
21. Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
22. Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 8 caps)
23. Luca MORISI (London Irish, 42 caps)

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 10 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

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RedWarriors 10 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 10 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

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OJohn 10 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

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Carlos 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 10 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

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BC 10 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

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Otagoman II 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍