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Berbizier changes half-backs

Ramiro Pez will start at fly-half for Italy

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has replaced his half-back pairing from Saturday's 76-14 loss to New Zealand with Ramiro Pez and Paul Griffen.

When the Frenchman announced his team on Monday he named four further changes in the team that will battle it out with Romania at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday.

The only other change made to the back-line was that of Gonzalo Canale slotting in at outside-centre for Andrea Masi.

The big surprise to some was Berbizier's decision to relegate veteran scrum-half Alessandro Troncon to the bench.

Berbizier's front-row has also changed somewhat with Andrea lo Cicero and Carlo Festuccia coming in at loose-head prop and hooker respectively. While Josh Sole will make a starting appearance on the side of the Italian scrum.

Italy: 15, David Bortolussi, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Mirco Bergamasco, 11 Marko Stanojevic, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Paul Griffen, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Santiago Dellape', 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Andrea lo Cicero
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Valerio Bernabo', 19 Manoa Vosawai, 20 Alessandro Troncon, 21 Ezio Galon, 22 Roland de Marigny

Date: Wednesday September, 12
Venue: Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Kick-off:18:00 (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Tony Spreadbury
Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence, Lyndon Bray
Television match official: Kelvin Deaker
Assessor: Tappe Henning