Azzurri lose flyer for Les Bleus clash

Yesterday at 09:52 AM

Head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made two starting XV changes to the Italy team for Sunday’s Six Nations clash against France in Rome.

Italy beat Wales in the last round, but Lyon winger Monty Ioane has a knee injury and has been replaced by Zebre's Simone Gesi, while Toulon hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi returns with Giacomo Nicotera dropping to the bench.

Martin Page-Relo will combine once more with Paolo Garbisi at halfback with the Treviso pair of Tommaso Menoncello, the tournament's best player last year, and Juan Ignacio Brex in the centres.

Lightning-quick Ange Capuozzo remains on the wing while Tommaso Allan, scorer of 17 points against the Welsh, is in line to win his 84th cap.

MORE: Ireland wary of wounded Wales

Quesada has made four changes to the bench including the return from suspension of Treviso prop Mirco Spagnolo.

Italy began the campaign with a 31-19 defeat by Scotland before outclassing Wales 22-15.

It will be the 50th meeting between the two teams with France well ahead on the results record, having won 45 and lost three. Their most recent encounter in last year's Six Nations in Lille finished 13-13, the only draw in their shared history.

ITALY – 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Bench: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Ross Vintcent, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Jacopo Trulla.

Six Nations round 3 fixtures:
Saturday
Wales vs Ireland, Cardiff, 4.15pm
England vs Scotland, London, 6.45pm
Sunday
Italy vs France, Rome, 5pm

The post Azzurri lose flyer for Les Bleus clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.