O'Shea keeps faith with Springbok slayers in first Six Nations side

Conor O’Shea has named 10 of the players who started the historic win over South Africa in his side for the Six Nations opener against Wales at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

The Azzurri beat the Springboks for the first time last November and are aiming to ruffle more feathers in the coming weeks.

Edoardo Gori has been named at fly-half for O’Shea’s first Six Nations match as head coach, while flankers Maxime Mbanda and Abraham Steyn get the nod.

Lock George Biagi and prop Andrea Lovotti will also feature from the start against Rob Howley’s men in Rome.

Michele Campagnaro had to be content for a place on the bench after O’Shea went with the centre pairing of Luke McLean and Tommaso Benvenuti.

Italy team: Team: Edoardo Padovani, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke McLean, Giovanbattista Venditti, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Gori; Andrea Lovotti, Ornel Gega, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Fuser, George Biagi, Abraham Steyn, Maxime Mbanda, Sergio Parisse [captain].