Allan injury forces Italy changes

Tommaso Allan will miss the final two rounds of the Six Nations after suffering a shoulder injury during Italy’s defeat to England at Twickenham.

Allan dislocated his shoulder during the second half of Italy’s 36-15 defeat and will play no further part in the Azzurri’s matches against France and Scotland.

Coach Conor O’Shea has replaced the Treviso fly-half with the uncapped Matteo Minozzi for France’s visit to Rome on March 11, the 20-year-old having impressed for Calvisano.

Minozzi is one of four changes to O’Shea’s squad for the clash with Luca Sperandio, Federico Ruzza and Dario Chistolini also drafted in.

I trentuno Azzurri di #Italrugby per #ITAvFRA e #SCOvITA.

Appuntamento contro @FFRugby l’11 marzo all’Olimpico! #sosteniamoli pic.twitter.com/XiB3lh9tG2

— Italrugby (@Federugby) March 1, 2017

An injury to Josh Furno sees the uncapped Ruzza handed his chance, while Michele Rizzo has stepped aside for Chistolini following his recovery from a rib injury.

An Italian Rugby Federation statement read: “Tommaso Allan and second row Josh Furno are not available, Allan for the left shoulder injury sustained at Twickenham [which will need 30 days’ rest] and Furno will head back to his club due to a persistent muscular issue.”

Italy squad:

Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli, Dario Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Andrea Lovotti, Sami Panico, Tommaso D’Apice, Ornel Gega, Leonardo Ghiraldini, George Fabio Biagi, Marco Fuser, Federico Ruzza, Andries Van Schalkwyk, Simone Favaro, Maxime Mbanda’, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Abraham Steyn.

Backs: Giorgio Bronzini, Edoardo Gori, Marcello Violi, Carlo Canna, Matteo Minozzi, Tommaso Benvenuti, Tommaso Boni, Michele Campagnaro, Luke McLean, Giulio Bisegni, Angelo Esposito, Giovambattista Venditti, Edoardo Padovani, Luca Sperandio.