Parisse to Lead Italy against South Africa

Sergio Parisse will lead Italy against South Africa in Florence on Saturday. Head Coach Conor O’Shea has retained the Argentine No 8 who will lead a team featuring four changes.

Winger Angelo Esposito makes way for Giovanbattista Venditti. Esposito has been dropped from the 23 altogether. In the forwards Francesco Minto replaces Maxime Mbanda at flanker, Ornel Gega starts in place of Leonardo Ghiraldini and Sami Panico replaces Andrea Lovotti.

Coming off a humbling 68-10 loss against New Zealand Italy is targeting a much improved performance.

Parisse will earn his 121st test cap against South Africa. He is the ninth highest capped player of all time. Of those ahead of him only Gethin Jenkins and Bryan Habana remain active.

ITALY
15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Giulio Bisegni, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Giorgio Bronzini, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt.), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Andries van Schalkwyk, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Ornel Gega, 1 Sami Panico

Replacements: 16 Tommaso D’Apice, 17 Nicola Quaglio, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 George Fabio Biagi, 20 Abraham Steyn, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Tommaso Boni