Parisse Captains New-Look Italy

Italian Head Coach Conor O’Shea has named his team for Saturday’s home international against New Zealand. The Irishman has named Argentine born Sergio Parisse as captain. The La Plata native did not play in June, instead resting.

Parisse will lead the Azzuri from No 8. He is to be one of three French-based players in the team. The others are Tight Head prop Lorenzo Cittadini and hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini. Openside flanker Simone Favaro is the only other player not based in Italy. He plays for the Glasgow Warriors.

Set to debut will be Giorgio Bronzini. The Treviso scrum half is a surprise selection ahead of the regular Edoardo Gori. Outside Bronzini will be Carlo Canna who forms a new-look 10-12 combination with Luke McLean.

ITALY
15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Giulio Bisegni, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Angelo Esposito, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Giorgio Bronzini, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt.), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Maxime Mbanda, 5 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lovotti

Replacements: 16 Ornel Gega, 17 Sami Panico, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 George Biagi, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Tommaso Boni

Date: Saturday, November 12
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 15:00 local 14:00 GMT
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)