Italy lose Martin Castrogiovanni, Michele Rizzo and Gonzalo Garcia for key Romania clash
Monday 5 October 2015 17:23, UK
Italy props Martin Castrogiovanni and Michele Rizzo, and centre Gonzalo Garcia, will miss the Azzurri's final World Cup game through injury.
The trio will return to their clubs for treatment and Italy will look to bring in replacements for their Pool D game against Romania next Sunday.
Italy are already out of the competition, their hopes of qualification having been ended when they were beaten 16-9 by Ireland on Sunday, a game Castrogiovanni missed with a sciatic nerve problem. Garcia (right hip flexor) and Rizzo (sprained left knee) were injured in the Olympic Stadium encounter.
But Sunday's game at Sandy Park in Exeter still has implications, with Jacques Brunel's side looking to claim third place in the pool and therefore secure an automatic berth in the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
They have five points from their three games and could need victory to secure third, dependent on the result of Tuesday's game between Canada and Romania.
A bonus point win for Canada would see them move above the Azzurri into third, while a similar result for Romania would see them move on to five points.
