43 - 7

15 - 52

32 - 26

12 - 36

24 - 13

25 - 37

15 - 20

17 - 26

21 - 26

27 - 23

61 - 7

47 - 10

38 - 17

18 - 26

33 - 46

13 - 24

28 - 56

14 - 23

39 - 20

45 - 28

16 - 17

41 - 17

40 - 14

41 - 17

27 - 35

56 - 19

34 - 14

24 - 21

33 - 20

42 - 12

Thursday

12:00

Autumn Nations Series

Italy stick to winning formula with only one change for Bok challenge

By Josh Raisey

25 days ago

Ange Capuozzo of Italy celebrates winning the match against Australia during the Quilter Nations Series match between Italy and Australia at Stadio Friuli on November 08, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Federugby via Getty Images)

Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made just one change to his starting XV for the visit from South Africa to Turin this week after victory over Australia.

The Azzurri triumphed over Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies 26-19 last week in Udine in their opening match of their Quilter Nations Series campaign, and Quesada has been reluctant to make any changes.

Only one alteration has been made to the starting XV, with Saracens tighthead Marco Riccioni starting this week after an appearance from the bench last week. He was swapped places with Simone Ferrari.

The bench, on the other hand, has seen slightly more change, with Italy adopting a 6-2 split on this occasion to counter South Africa’s power up front.

The back who has been sacrificed on the bench is Leonardo Marin, with a second lock, Riccardo Favretto, taking his place. The back-row option among the substitutes has changed as well, with former U20 captain David Odiase getting the nod over Alessandro Izekor.

Fixture

Internationals

Italy

14 - 32

Full-time

South Africa

All Stats and Data

Italy XV
15 Ange Capuozzo (Toulouse, 29 caps)
14 Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
13 Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon, 47 caps) – captain
12 Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)
11 Monty Ioane (Lyon, 40 caps)
10 Paolo Garbisi (Toulon, 48 caps)
9 Stephen Varney (Exeter Chiefs, 35 caps)
8 Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 31 caps)
7 Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 36 caps)
6 Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
5 Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps)
4 Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 56 caps)
3 Marco Riccioni (Saracens, 35 caps)
2 Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français, 35 caps)
1 Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints, 56 caps)

Replacements
16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma, 4 caps)
17 Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)
18 Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby, 67 caps)
19 Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 65 caps)
20 Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
21 David Odiase (Zebre Parma, 2 caps)
22 Martin Page-Relo (Bordeaux, 19 caps)
23 Tommaso Allan (Perpignan, 86 caps)

LIVE

Comments

2 Comments

tf 25 days ago

I hope Italy don't get destroyed. Can't see SA slipping up and think Rassie will mix it up. But hope Italy can kick on after the win and match, or at least stay with the Boks to make it a game into the last 15 to 20.

Jimmy 25 days ago

That’s probably the strongest side Italy has mustered in a while. Way more test experienced players than the Boks.

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