Italy coach Conor O'Shea said
Wednesday that he was making four changes to his starting
line-up for Sunday's Six Nations match against holders England
at Twickenham.
The Azzurri are aiming to produce a convincing performance
after heavy home defeats to Wales and Ireland in their first two
games this year revived the debate about whether they deserve
their place in the tournament.
Tommaso Allan returns at flyhalf to make his first start
since a victory in Canada last June, with Carlo Canna dropping
to the bench.
Giulio Bisegni returns on the wing for Angelo Esposito, and
Michele Campagnaro comes in for Tommaso Benvenuti at outside
centre.
The other change is in the back row, with Abraham Steyn
replacing Mata Maxime Mbanda as blind-side flanker.
Italy have never beaten England, who are on a 16-match
winning run and aiming for a second consecutive Grand Slam.
Team: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Giulio Bisegni, 13 Michele
Campagnaro, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10
Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori; 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7
Simone Favaro, 6 Abraham Steyn, 5 Andries Van Schlakwyk, 4 Marco
Fuser, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea
Lovotti.
Replacements: 16 Ornel Gega, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Pietro
Ceccarelli, 19 George Biagi, 20 Mata Maxime Mbandà, 21 Giorgio
Bronzini, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti.
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