Italy boss makes wholesale changes
Italy coach Nick Mallett on Friday announced 12 changes to his side for the World Cup Pool C match against Russia at Nelson on Tuesday.
The Italians lost 32-6 to Australia in their opener and need to beat the Russians to retain hopes of reachng the last eight of the World Cup for the first time.
Only captain Sergio Parisse, fullback Andrew Masi and utility back Tommaso Benvenuti, who has moved from wing to outside centre, have been retained in the starting XV.
The 12 changes to the team are the most Italy have made at a World Cup since their second match in 2003.
Salvatore Perugini returns as starting loosehead prop for his first match since Italy's final 2011 Six Nations match in March against France.
Leicester's Martin Castrogiovanni, considered by many to be the best tighthead prop in the world, will start the match from the bench.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Riccardo Bocchino, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Paul Derbyshire, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Martin Castrogiovanni, 18 Cornelius van Zyl, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Luciano Orquera, 22 Alberto Sgarbi.
Date: Tuesday, September 20
Venue: Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Kick-off: 19.30 (07.30 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
AFP