Nick Mallet announces 11 changes for Azzurri’s second World Cup warm-up match against Scotland
The Italian national Rugby Union team, commonly known as Azzurri, has announced their match day 22 for their second pre-World cup warm-up match against Scotland. Azzurri’s head coach, Nick Mallet, listed his final squad on Thursday, August 18.
Scotland will host the Italy at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh on Saturday, August 20.
Mallet has announced 11 changes to his starting XV, which took the field in their 31 – 24 home victory over Japan on Saturday, August 13, at Cesena.
The quartet retained their place in the starting XV, including their number eight and captain Sergio Parisse, front row forwards duo of Leonardo Ghiraldini and Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina, and left winger Tommaso Benvenuti. However, Benvenuti will start Saturday’s
match against Scotland from the right-winger position. The rest of the backs line has been completely revamped.
Andrea Masi will start the match at the fullback position, replacing the Luke Mclean, who has been dropped from the match day squad. Mirco Bergamasco will join the Benvenuti at the left winger position, as Giulio Toniolatti is rested for the match.
Mallet has tried a new centre combination as the duo of Gonzalo Canale and Gonzalo Garcia, start the match at the outside and inside centre positions respectively. The pair has replaced the duo of Alberto Sgarbi and Matteo Pratichetti.
The half back of the Luciano Orquera and Fabio Semenzato, who started from the bench, in last weekend’s encounter against Japan, will start the match at the fly half and scrum half positions respectively. The players replaced Riccardo Bocchino and Edoardo
Gori in the starting xv as the pair is rested for coming Saturday’s game.
The five other changes in the forwards’ pack include a game for Robert Barbieri, Paul Derbyshire, Cornelius Van Zyl, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, and Martin Castrogiovanni.
Flankers Robert Barbieri and Paul Derbyshire will start the match in place of Mauro Bergamasco and Alessandro Zanni respectively. Cornelius Van Zyl and Carlo Antonio Del Fava will form the new second row combination for Italy.
Cornelius Van Zyl started from the bench in Italy’s last weekend game against Japan, while Antonio Del Fava will play his first game of the season.
Azzurri squad for their upcoming encounter against Scotland consists of:
Starting XV: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Paul Derbyshire, 5 Cornelius Van Zyl, 4
Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Matteo Pratichetti.
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