Fit-again Ange Capuozzo one of eight Italy changes versus Romania

Italy boss Kieran Crowley has made eight changes to his team for this Saturday’s clash with Romania in San Benedetto del Tronto, including the timely recall of the fit-again Ange Capuozzo for his first match in six months.

The 2022 World Rugby men’s breakthrough player of the year hurt his left shoulder in his country’s Guinness Six Nations match against Ireland last February, but he has timed his rehab perfectly to make it back onto the field just weeks before the Azzurri open their Rugby World Cup campaign versus Namibia in Saint-Etienne on September 9.

The Italians have so far had two Summer Nations Series outings in preparation for the finals, where they will also play Uruguay, New Zealand and France. They were beaten 17-33 in their most recent outing versus Ireland in Dublin on August 5 and head coach Crowley has now named a pack showing five changes.

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Included on this occasion are No8 Toa Halafihi, skipper Michele Lamaro, lock Niccolo Cannone and props Simone Ferrari and Ivan Nemer. Aside from Capuozzo, the backline alterations feature Alessandro Garbisi at scrum-half and Luca Morisi at centre, the latter taking over from the unfortunate Tommaso Menoncello who will miss the World Cup following his bicep Injury in Dublin.

“A new phase of preparation for the World Cup begins for us,” said Crowley ahead of the first of two home matches before the finals. They also play Japan in Treviso on August 26.

“The one against Romania is the first step of two games – including Japan – which represent a crucial moment of the season for us. Romania is a physical team. We prepared well for the game and we aim to achieve our first win of the summer in front of our fans.”

Italy (vs Romania, Saturday)
15. Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 10 caps)
14. Paolo ODOGWU (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
13. Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
12. Luca MORISI (unattached, 45 caps)
11. Montanna IOANE (Lione, 19 caps)
10. Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 25 caps)
9. Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
8. Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
7. Michele LAMARO (captain, Benetton Rugby, 27 caps)
6. Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 47 caps)
5. Dino LAMB (Harlequins, 1 cap)
4. Niccolo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 31 caps)
3. Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 45 caps)
2. Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps)
1. Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)

Replacements:
16. Hame FAIVA (unattached, 6 caps)
17. Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 22 caps)
18. Pietro CECCARELLI (Perpignan, 27 caps)
19. Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 43 caps)
20. Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
21. Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 14 caps)
22. Tommaso ALLAN (Perpignan, 73 caps)
23. Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 2 caps