New backs for Italy against Canada

Italy coach Conor O’Shea has opted to change up his backline after the narrow victory over the Eagles on Saturday. Tommaso Allan will start at flyhalf in place of Carlo Canna in the most significant change, giving the Treviso-bound playmaker a chance to impress the new management.

Tommaso Boni has recovered sufficiently from the hamstring issue that ruled him out of the USA match to make his debut in place of Tommaso Castello, who himself earned his first cap on the weekend. Concussion has ruled out Leonardo Sarto, with powerhouse Giovanbattista Venditti taking his place. Venditti will wear 11 but play on the right wing, while Angelo Esposito wears 14 but plays on the left. Davide Odiete moves to fullback with Luke McLean left out of the side completely.

Lorenzo Cittadini will celebrate his 50th test match for the Azzurri in an unchanged forward pack. Tommaso D’Apice has been nominated as reserve hooker and looks set to make his first international appearance in four years. Youngster Sebastian Negri will cover second row this week, and Jacopo Sarto joins the squad as an extra loose forward. Toronto-born Robert Barbieri has not recovered from the elbow injury that caused him to be a late scratch against the Americans and will take no part in the match.

Italy have beaten Canada in five consecutive test matches, including a 23-18 result during the World Cup in September and a 25-16 win at their last stop in Toronto that took place in June of 2012. The match kicks off at noon Eastern time on Sunday, June 26, at BMO Field and will be broadcast live on TSN 5.

ITALY
1 Andrea Lovotti 2 Ornel Gega 3 Lorenzo Cittadini 4 Quintin Geldenhuys 5 Marco Fuser 6 Maxime Mbandà 7 Simone Favaro 8 Dries van Schalkwyk 9 Edoardo Gori (capt.) 10 Tommaso Allan 11 Giovanbattista Venditti 12 Tommaso Boni 13 Michele Campagnaro 14 Angelo Esposito 15 Davide Odiete

16 Tommaso D’Apice 17 Sami Panico 18 Pietro Ceccarelli 19 Sebastian Negri 20 Jacopo Sarto 21 Guglielmo Palazzani 22 Carlo Canna 23 Giulio Bisegni