Barbieri Starts for Italy vs USA

Canadian product Robert Barbieri has been named to start for Italy vs the USA on Saturday. The Toronto-born back-rower is the only change to the side that started against Argentina in Santa Fé this past weekend.

Italian Head Coach Conor O’Shea will be looking for the opening win over his tenure. He took over as Head Coach last month, making the current three-test tour of the Americas his first experience with the Azzurri.

Saturday’s international will be Italy’s first match against the USA in four years and the fifth overall. The Central Europeans won the four prior fixtures with the smallest making being a 17 point win tag Rugby World Cup 2011. The 2012 fixture, though, was influenced by the red carding of centers Paul Emerick and Andrew Suniula.

For the USA to make history in San José the Eagles will need to produce an outstanding performance. Against Los Pumas the Italians played well which is replicated in the team named by O’Shea with Barbieri being the only change to the starting lineup.

Barbieri comes in for Abraham Steyn on the side of the scrum with his vacant spot on the bench going to Maxime Mbanda.

The USA Eagles team to face Italy is yet to be named. The Eagles will play host to the fixture this coming Saturday at Avaya Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 6pm local time.

ITALY
15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Tommaso Castello, 11 David Odiete, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Robert Barbieri, 5 Marco Fuser, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Ornel Gega, 1 Andrea Lovotti

Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Sami Panico, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Maxime Mbandà, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Giovanbattista Venditti