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Six NationsItaly

One uncapped player included as Italy make six changes for opener against France

(Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Italy have made six changes to the starting team to face France on Saturday in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations, five of those alterations coming in the pack following their fifth-place Autumn Nations Cup defeat to Wales at Llanelli last time out in December.

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There is just a single switch in the backline for the Garibaldi Trophy match, the uncapped Juan Ignacio Brex getting chosen for his Test debut in the midfield in place of Carlo Canna.  

The other six players chosen in the backline, including Monty Ioane who debuted in Wales, have a total of 24 caps between them, highlighting the evolution in the selection that is taking place under Franco Smith who took charge for the first time last February.  

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Ex-England full-back Ben Foden guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload with Dylan Hartley and Simon Zebo

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Ex-England full-back Ben Foden guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload with Dylan Hartley and Simon Zebo

In the pack, only Johan Meyer, Marco Lazzaroni and Luca Bigi remain as starters from the defeat to Wales and Smith has rung multiple changes, including giving No8 Michele Lamaro a first Test start after two appearances off the bench.  

“We will face with courage a France team that showed its qualities during the last Six Nations and the Nations Cup,” said Smith, who is looking to deliver Italy their first win in a Six Nations match since 2015. “We follow our growth process to continue introducing the new generations.” 

ITALY (vs France, Saturday)
15 Jacopo TRULLA (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, 3 caps)
14 Luca SPERANDIO (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
13 Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
12 Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, uncapped)
11 Montanna IOANE (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
10 Paolo GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
9 Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
8 Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
7 Johan MEYER (Zebre Rugby Club, 9 caps)
6 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)
5 David SISI (Zebre Rugby Club, 11 caps)
4 Marco LAZZARONI (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
3 Marco RICCIONI (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
2 Luca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 32 caps) – capt
1 Cherif TRAORE (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)

Replacements
16 Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
17 Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 8 caps)
18 Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Rugby Club, 10 caps)
19 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
20 Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)
21 Maxime MBANDA (Zebre Rugby Club, 25 caps)
22 Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 41 caps)
23 Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 47 caps)

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Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nik 16 minutes ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Earl

Willis

Underhill


Fixes the balance if you use Tom instead of Jack

5 Go to comments
O
OJohn 37 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Obviously Borthwick is the problem. He's inflexible. It's his way or the highway. Trouble is he's going the wrong way.

14 Go to comments
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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
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Fiji. 1 point.

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

I tend to agree with Campese. This is probably the last chance Eben has of winning the award. But man, Cheslin and PSDT have been sublime.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Possibly. But this welsh team is no better than a good URC team at this point.


But a tough match is what is needed for the inexperienced in the group. Building depth etc.


Nobody learns anything pumping a team by 50.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Rob Howley: Warren Gatland is 'the best coach in the world'

Jeepers. That’s a nuclear response given the context.


By all means back the man. But there’s no need to go overboard with calling him the world best coach.

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

He played a big role, as director of rugby prior to stepping in as coach, putting systems in place. He’s been involved in many of these players careers since they were teens or debutants at their provincial teams.


So I agree with you 100% it’s not Gatlands fault the pipeline of players is poor.

20 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Rassie is going to coach the boks until he’s 65. Never get tired of this.


I said a while ago that a South African would do well with Wales. Similar philosophy to the game. Perhaps Johan should do a stint at Wales?

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
The Springboks confirm one change made to team named on Tuesday

It could be about the cut. It doesn’t seem wise to risk a reinjury.


Also an opportunity to give others a run.

6 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

It a hypothesis sure, perhaps Felix has a sweet deal lined up somewhere else. But I also don’t think he’d say something about that environment if it wasn’t true. He doesn’t strike me as a douche.

14 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Just a hypothesis. What on earth else could be the issue with regards to the environment as claimed by Felix?

14 Go to comments
J
JM 1 hour ago
'Lightweight' Premiership not preparing England players for Test rugby

You start off talking about physicality and then quickly segue to intensity as if they're the same thing.

If you think the Premiership isn't physical then you're either a fool, or being disingenuous.

One of the issues the Premiership does have when it comes to intensity is that the bonus point structure makes the last 20 minutes of lots of games meaningless. Everyone's wrapped up their points, benches are cleared, the quality of the game deteriorates, and what could be tense conclusions end up just petering out.

12 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Willis is incredible and probably the best of the bunch but in Underhill and Earl we have two excellent alternatives.


Willis is solid in the lineout but I don't think Borthwick would pick a backrow without a 6'5" blindside.

5 Go to comments
T
Toaster 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

As an ABs fan there’s nothing to justify

The Boks are the best and just know how to win

And their depth is incredible now

And when they don’t they lose late on by one point


The rest of us aren’t too far away (some closer than others)


But in reality if we include England Argentina and now Aus rugby looks greatly competitive


Bongis knock on and Lomaxes double bank

These things happen


The fact is the ABs overall have evolved with new players and others like Aumua Vaai and Williams who have progressed immensely


But by and large although it has improved overall our second halves are a massive work in progress


So a B- is about right provided there is no loss to Italy

A loss drops it to C- !!

Remember we could have lost all three games to England but were just slightly better that’s all

29 Go to comments
f
fl 1 hour ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Willis is decent in the lineout to be fair, but definitely lacking a heavyweight ball carrier.


I think between Underhill, Curry, and Willis there isn't a huge amount between them. Maybe Willis would be good enough to start, but he wouldn't massively improve the team.

5 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'

I'm not sure he is getting there and I don't think he will. Progress has been glacial honestly. Our attacking structure hasn't improved at all, except that he's now picking Marcus Smith who is a one man attack at the moment... And our defence for obvious reasons is now awful. I would have faith in Borthwick if I had faith in his assistant coaches... But I don't think Wigglesworth is an attack coach and why would he be? He's never been an attack coach and he spent his entire career box kicking. Our defence coach has never been employed as a defence coach and is still the head coach of a second division French side with an awful defensive record. The fact that Borthwick appointed them both is a poor reflection. If we still had Felix Jones and we had Mike Catt/Nick Evans or someone in the attack coach role, I'd be content to be patient and that results will come. With Wigglesworth and Joe El Abd, I have no faith that we will improve and I've seen no signs that we are.

16 Go to comments
E
EV 2 hours ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

You miss the point. There is no pipeline of players. A coach cannot change that. That is up to the Welsh RFU, which have failed.


Rassie is a clever bugger, no doubt, but the Boks could play 52 players this year because of the systems they have put in place to find and develop players from schoolboy level up.

20 Go to comments
E
EV 2 hours ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Rassie is ruling the roost because he put systems in place to find and develop the best players from schoolboy level up. Its an entire system and organisation that now, several years down the line, presents him with a pipeline of battle ready talent.


Wales lacks this, lacks a Director of Rugby. Firing Gatland won't change this fact. He is an world class coach. If anything Abi Tierney should be shipped out for failing to put these systems in place over the last 11 months.

20 Go to comments
T
Tom 2 hours ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

In terms of player quality, that is a phenomenal backrow. In terms of balance, not so much. Lacks a heavyweight ball carrier and a lineout option. I'm sure they'd still cause havoc though.

5 Go to comments
S
SC 2 hours ago
New Zealand can't keep losing first fives like Harry Plummer

Is Harry Plummer a better 10 than Barrett or McKenzie? I do not think he is close to their level. Clearly, neither does Robertson.


Therefore Plummer does not deserve to start or be on the bench for an All Black Test if he is not one of the top two in his position. The third best player at a position should only be selected if one of the top two are injured.


This applies to all players at all positions.


The All Black XV team is for player development. The All Blacks should not be.

6 Go to comments
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