Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has
transformed his starting lineup for Sunday's Six Nations match
against France in Lille, with a host of changes from the side
that lost 36-0 in Ireland last time out.
Martin Page-Relo, who was born in France and plays his club
rugby there for Lyon, will pick up his first Azzurri cap at
scrumhalf, with Stephen Varney dropping to the bench after a
poor game in Dublin.
In the back row, Ross Vintcent and Riccardo Favretto will make
their first starts for the national team at number eight and
blindside flanker respectively.
Centre Federico Mori makes his first start for Italy in almost
two years, with Tommaso Menoncello shifted to the right wing.
The Azzurri are without important players such as Sebastian
Negri, Lorenzo Cannone, Edoardo Iachizzi and Pietro Ceccarelli
due to injuries, while veteran fullback/flyhalf Tommaso Allan
has decided to take a break from the national team for family
reasons.
Italy are bottom of the Six Nations table with one point from
two games after losing to Ireland and 27-24 to England in their
opener in Rome.
"I didn't count how many changes I made in the lineup compared
to the match against Ireland," Quesada told a news conference.
"We are adapting to Sunday's game and dealing with some
injuries.
"The group is the same one that has been working together for
three weeks.
"I'm working hard to give maximum opportunities to the players
we feel are ready.
"Winning the ball wasn't our strong point against England and
Ireland, so we need to continue working on this.
"France will want to bring a lot of physicality, but we have to
play our game and impose our game plan"
Italy team:
15 Ange Capuozzo
14 Tommaso Menoncello
13 Juan Ignacio Brex
12 Federico Mori
11 Monty Ioane
10 Paolo Garbisi
9 Martin Page-Relo
1 Danilo Fischetti
2 Giacomo Nicotera
3 Giosuè Zilocchi
4 Niccolò Cannone
5 Federico Ruzza
6 Riccardo Favretto
7 Michele Lamaro - captain
8 Ross Vintcent.
Replacements:
16 Gianmarco Lucchesi
17 Mirco Spagnolo
18 Simone Ferrari
19 Matteo Canali
20 Andrea Zambonin
21 Manuel Zuliani
22 Stephen Varney
23 Leonardo Marin.
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