Mallet makes 2 changes to Italy team
Italy Team Manager Nick Mallet looks on during the RBS 6 Nations Championship match between England and Italy at Twickenham on February 7, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) Nick Mallet (February 7, 2009 - Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images Europe)
Italy coach Nick Mallett has made two changes to his starting line-up for their second Six Nations match against England in Rome on Sunday.
Kaine Robertson drops to the bench with Andrea Masi taking his place at number 14, while Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami replaces Carlo Antonio Del Fava from the starting XV that lost 29-11 in Ireland last weekend.
The Azzurri welcome back Valerio Bernabo after a two-year absence in the only change to the bench.
Bernabo takes injured scrum-half Simone Picone’s place among the replacements. Picone suffered a muscular injury during his team’s opening loss at Croke Park.
The Italians head into this weekend’s encounter looking to push England close just as they did the last time the sides met at the Stadio Flaminio, when the visitors secured a hard-fought 23-18 win two years ago.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Masi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (capt), 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Valerio Bernabo, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Kaine Robertson.
Date: Sunday, February 14
Kick-off: 15:30 (14:30 GMT)
Venue: Stadio Flaminio
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Pascal Gauzere (France)
Television match official: Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Assessor: Dave Herbert (Wales)
[Info from Planetrugby.com]
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