Six Nations 2015: Italy make six changes for Scotland game
- Published
Six Nations 2015: Scotland v Italy |
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Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 28 February Kick-off: 14:30 GMT |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC One HD, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app from 14:00 GMT; listen on BBC Radio Scotland; text commentary on BBC Sport website. |
Two backs will make their Italy debuts against Scotland at Murrayfield in a side showing six changes to the one beaten by England last time out.
Winger Michele Visentin, 23, and centre Enrico Bacchin, 22, come into the side.
Toulon prop Martin Castrogiovanni will miss the Six Nations match after he was bitten by a dog and needed 14 stitches.
His place is filled by Dario Chistolini, while Matias Aguero, Simone Favaro and Newcastle Falcons' Joshua Furno also all start for the Azzurri.
Furno is given his chance by coach Jacques Brunel in Saturday's game following a muscular injury picked up by veteran lock Marco Bortolami.
Benetton Treviso's Bacchin wins his first cap following an injury to Wasps' Andrea Masi, while Visentin steps in for Zebre team-mate Leonardo Sarto.
Sale Sharks prop Alberto De Marchi drops to the bench to make way for Aguero, who started in Italy's opening defeat by Ireland in Rome.
Benetton Treviso flanker Simone Favaro returns to the side for the first time since the autumn Test against Argentina in November and takes the place of Mauro Bergamasco, the Zebre veteran having been dropped.
Like Scotland, the Saturday's visitors are seeking their first win of this season's Six Nations campaign.
Following their 26-3 defeat by Ireland, Italy next fell 47-17 to England at Twickenham.
Brunel said: "Scotland is a team that we have struggled to beat in recent years.
"They have also lost their opening two games but not by a big margin.
"They were in the game against France and they dominated against Wales but then had problems.
"They don't seem to have major weaknesses. It's going to be a difficult game, but I expect a lot more from my team."
The Azzurri have won seven and lost 15 of their 22 meetings with Scotland, with their last triumph coming in Rome three years ago.
Italy have won only once at Murrayfield - a 37-17 triumph in 2007.
Italy team
L McLean (Sale Sharks) , M Visentin (Zebre), L Morisi (Benetton Treviso), E Bacchin (Benetton Treviso), G Venditti (Zebre), K Haimona (Zebre), E Gori (Benetton Treviso); M Aguero (Zebre), L Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers), D Chistolini (Zebre), G Biagi (Zebre), J Furno (Newcastle Falcons), F Minto (Benetton Treviso), S Favaro (Benetton Treviso), S Parisse (Stade Francais).
Replacements: A Manici (Zebre), A De Marchi (Sale Sharks), L Cittadini (London Wasps), M Fuser (Benetton Treviso), S Vunisa (Zebre), G Palazzani (Zebre), T Allan (Perpignan), G Bisegni (Zebre).
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