Italy tweak for Ireland clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy have made three changes to the team that will face Ireland in their Six Nations Round three clash.
Paolo Garbisi returns at flyhalf as one of three changes to Kieran Crowley’s side from defeat against England in Round 2.
Garbisi has played for the Azzurri just once so far this season and missed the start of the Championship through a sprained ligament in his right knee but returns to spearhead the attack after making his return to action for club side Montpellier last weekend.
The other change in the backline sees Pierre Bruno restored to the wing, which pushes Tommaso Menoncello to inside centre with Luca Morisi dropping to the bench.
The sole change in the forwards comes at tighthead as Simone Ferrari replaces Marco Riccioni.
Ferrari, who started against France in Round 1, links up once more with ever-presents Giacomo Nicotera and Danilo Fischetti.
Niccolò Cannone and Federico Ruzza resume their partnership in the second row, while Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro and Lorenzo Cannone form the back row.
Stephen Varney joins Garbisi in the half-back positions, while Juan Ignacio Brex partners Menoncello in the midfield.
The back three is comprised of Bruno, Edoardo Padovani and Ange Capuozzo.
One change on the bench sees Giovanni Pettinelli return as back row cover in place of the injured Jake Polledri, while Crowley has gone with a 5-3 bench split as both Morisi and Tommaso Allan feature in the matchday 23.
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Edoardo Padovani, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Pierre Bruno, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney; 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Edoardo Iachizzi, 20 Giovanni Pettinelli, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Tommaso Allan
Date: Saturday, February 25
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 14.15 (13.15 UK and Ireland time; 13.15 GMT)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (Ireland) & Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Source: @SixNations