Italy team v Springboks: New Azzurri captain named as Gonzalo Quesada rings the changes
Italy second-row and skipper Niccolo Cannone and head coach Gonzalo Quesada (inset).
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has rung the changes to his starting line-up for their first Test against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
After resting several senior players who started the Azzurri’s last match against Ireland in the Six Nations for the tour to Southern Africa, Quesada has handed the team’s captaincy to experienced second-rower Niccolò Cannone.
This, after hooker Giacomo Nicotera was the team’s skipper during last weekend’s 73-6 triumph over Namibia in Windhoek.
Amongst the list of experienced players who were not named in Quesada‘s 33-man squad for their tour are hooker Gianmarci Lucchesi, locks Dino Lamb and Federico Ruzza, half-backs Martin Page-Relo and Paolo Garbisi, midfielder Juan Ignacio Brex, former skipper and back-row Michele Lamaro and utility backs Ange Capuozzo and Tommaso Allan.
Seven changes to Azzurri starting XV
There are seven changes to Italy‘s run-on side after that one-sided win against Namibia.
In the backline, Louis Lynagh comes in on the right wing where he replaces Paolo Odogwu and he is joined in the back three by fellow wing Simone Gesi and Jacopo Trulla, who lines up at full-back.
Meanwhile, Marco Zanon takes over from Leonardo Marin as the starting inside centre and forms an exciting midfield combination with Tommaso Menoncello, while Giacomo Da Re and Alessandro Fusco continue as the starting half-backs to complete the backline.
In the forwards, Riccardo Favretto has been ruled out due to a knee injury sustained against Namibia and his place alongside new skipper Cannone in the second-row is taken by Andrea Zambonin.
Lorenzo Cannone (number eight) and Alessandro Izekor (blindside flanker) come into the run-on side to replace Ross Vintcent and Sebastian Negri respectively and they join openside flanker Manuel Zuliani in the back-row.
There is one alteration to the front-row with Tommaso Di Bartolomeo taking over from Nicotera at hooker and he packs down alongside experienced props Simone Ferrari and Danilo Fischetti.
Quesada has opted for a six-two split on his replacements bench with Pablo Dimcheff, Mirco Spagnolo, Muhamed Hasa, Matteo Canali, Vintcent and David Odiase serving as forward cover, while Alessandro Garbisi and Giulio Bertaccini are the reserve backs.
Italy team to face the Springboks
Italy: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 David Odiase, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Giulio Bertaccini
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Date: Saturday, July 5
Kick-off: 17:10 (local), 16:10 (UK)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistants: Matthew Carley (RFU), Andrew Brace (IRFU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
