Parisse to Captain Italy against Wales

Sergio Parisse is to Captain Italy against Wales. The Argentine born and raised player will play in his regular position of No 8. Head Coach Conor O’Shea has named thirteen Italian-based players in the starting lineup.

In playing Parisse will earn his 122 test cap. It is three more than the second most-capped Italian international, Martín Castrogiovanni. Both are from Argentina but capped by Italy.

Currently the 9th most capped player in history, Parisse can move ahead of South Africans Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana this year. He could be in the top 5 by the end of the year. Keven Mealamu is currently in 5th spot with 132 caps.

ITALY
15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Giulio Bisegni, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt.), 7 Maxime Mata Mbanda, 6 Abraham Steyn, 5 George Biagi, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Ornel Gega, 1 Andrea Lovotti.

Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Sami Panico, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Michele Campagnaro