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It's all change bar one as O'Shea's Italy take on Russia

By Liam Heagney
Federico Zani (left) and Simone Ferrari cry as they sing the Italian national anthem in Dublin last Saturday (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Conor O’Shea has made wholesale changes for Italy’s second World Cup warm-up match against Russia on Saturday, Matteo Minozzi the only survivor from last weekend’s defeat to Ireland in Dublin. 

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The new Wasps winger/full-back was a late call-up to face the Irish, getting shunted into the starting line-up after the originally selected midfielder Marco Zanon pulled up lame during the pre-match warm-up. 

Minozzi went on to play a credible part in the 10-29 loss, but he now starts in his more favoured position on the wing in a match in Tronto that will see veteran Sergio Parisse return to the side as captain. 

The XV chosen by O’Shea is a mix of very experienced players such as long-serving talisman Parisse and some, such as lock David Sisi, who are still feeling their way at Test level. 

O’Shea, who will confirm his bench on Wednesday, said: “We are not happy with the defeat to Ireland, but there are good things from which we can share and work to constantly improve. 

“We face an opponent which makes his physical strength. We want to bring a victory at home trying to impose our pace by maintaining our focus on us.”

Italy, who have not won a Six Nations match since 2015 and are coming off the back of their third straight whitewash under O’Shea, will face defending World Cup champions New Zealand along with new Rugby Championship champions South Africa in their pool at the finals in Japan.  

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ITALY TEAM (to face Russia on Saturday)

15 Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)

14 Matteo MINOZZI (Wasps, 11 caps)

13 Michele CAMPAGNARO (Harlequins, 42 caps)

12 Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)

11 Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 17 caps)

10 Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 48 caps)

9 Tito TEBALDI (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)

8 Sergio PARISSE (Tolone, 138 caps) – captain

7 Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester, 8 caps)

6 Abraham STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 30 caps)

5 Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)

4 David SISI (Zebre Rugby Club, 5 caps)

3 Tiziano PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)

2 Luca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 19 caps)

1 Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 34 caps)

WATCH: Conor O’Shea’s post-match media conference following last weekend’s defeat to Ireland

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Bull Shark 51 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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