Parisse to Lead Italy Against Ireland

Sergio Parisse is to lead Italy against Ireland. Having been in doubt due to injury the Argentine-born player is now free to play. Parisse will lead the team from No 8.

Italy will have home advantage again this weekend. Having opening against Wales on Sunday the Azzurri will play again in Rome. Ireland opened their campaign away to Scotland in Edinburgh. Both teams enter round two looking for their first win of the campaign.

Italian Head Coach Conor O’Shea had made four changes for Ireland. Toulouse’s Leonardo Ghiraldini has been named in place of Ornel Gega at hooker. Andries van Schalkwyk starts at second-row with George Biagi dropping to the bench. At flanker Simone Favaro, comes in for Abraham Steyn.

The one change to the backline sees Angelo Esposito starting. He will do so on the wing with Giulio Bisegni missing out. Star center Michele Campagnaro is again on the bench.

ITALY
15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke Mclean, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Edoardo Gori, 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 Dario Chistolini, 19 George Biagi, 20 Abraham Steyn, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Michele Campagnaro