Italy make four changes for Scotland Six Nations clash
Tuesday 14 March 2017 17:15, UK
Italy have made four changes to their starting XV for Saturday's final Six Nations fixture against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Scottish-born lock George Biagi, who came off the bench in the defeats by Ireland, England and France, has been selected in the second row in place of club team-mate Andries van Schalkwyk.
Zebre's Maxime Mbanda is also named in the starting pack, in place of Glasgow flanker Simone Favaro, while Ornel Gega takes over from Leonardo Ghiraldini at hooker after recovering from a neck problem.
Tommaso Benvenuti replaces the injured Michele Campagnaro in the centres, and back-rower Federico Ruzza will be hoping for a first senior cap from the bench.
Italy were 22-19 winners at Murrayfield on final day of the 2015 Six Nations but have lost all 11 championship games since then.
Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti; 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Edoardo Gori; 1 Andrea Lovotti, 2 Ornel Gega, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Marco Fuser, 5 George Biagi, 6 Maxime Mbanda, 7 Abraham Steyn, 8 Sergio Parisse (c).
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Sami Panico, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Andries Vanm Schalkwyk, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Francesco Minto, 22 Marcello Violi, 23 Luca Sperandio.
