Six Nations: Italy make four changes for England clash at Twickenham
Wednesday 11 February 2015 18:19, UK
Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made four changes to his team for Saturday’s clash with England at Twickenham.
There are two further positional changes as Brunel reorganises his line-up for what looks likely to be a tough afternoon in west London against Stuart Lancaster’s buoyant team.
Veteran lock Marco Bortolami extends his caps record for Italy to 111, replacing Newcastle's Josh Furno in the second row.
Another Azzurri stalwart, flanker Mauro Bergamasco will pick up his 101st cap in place of Alessandro Zanni, who partially tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in last week’s 26-3 defeat to Ireland in Italy.
Sale Sharks prop Alberto De Marchi, who started on the bench last week, swaps places with Matias Aguero at loosehead prop in the other change in the forwards.
Michele Campagnaro will miss the rest of the Six Nations after injuring his left knee, so Luca Morisi has moved out one spot to fill the vacant outside centre spot. Wasps star Andrea Masi will be at inside centre, switching from full-back. Sale's Luke McLean moves to No 15 from the left wing.
Giovambattista Venditti, who started on the bench in Rome, comes on to the left wing.
"We have had to re-think the group in light of the injuries to (Michele) Campagnaro and Zanni," Brunel said. "But we are counting on the experience of Bortolami and Bergamasco.
"We have worked hard to maintain the defensive quality that we showed against Ireland and are trying to improve our possession.
"England is a different cup of tea and for us, this remains a great challenge."
Zebre centre Giulio Bisegni is included as a replacement and could make his Italy debut.
Fiji-born flanker Samuela Vunisa, who made his Azzurri bow in November, may make his first Six Nations appearance after being named in the squad.
Italy have lost all of their 20 previous games against England.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovambattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori; 1 Alberto De Marchi, 2 Leonardi Ghiraldini, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 4 George Biagi. 5 Marco Bortolami, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 7 Francesco Minto, 8 Sergio Parisse (c).
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Dario Chistolini,19 Joshua Furno, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Giulio Bisegni.
