SPORT NEWS

Italy make four changes for Ireland

by Michelle Fortune , 22 February 2012

The Italy team to face Ireland in the RBS Six Nations on Saturday shows four changes to the side that lost to England in Rome earlier this month.


Tobias Botes takes over from Kristopher Burton at fly-half for the trip to Dublin after making two substitute appearances for the Azzurri in their two Six Nations matches to date. Botes missed two late kicks against England and coach Jacques Brunel will be hoping he fares better against Ireland.

Alberto Sgarbi has been named in the centre with Gonzolo Canael dropping to the bench alongside Burton, while Lorenzo Cittadini gets his first start as he takes over from the injured Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni, who will miss the rest of the tournament with a fractured rib.

Benetton Treviso loosehead prop Michele Rizzo, meanwhile, takes his place with Andrea Lo Cicero named among the replacements.

Italy (XV v Ireland): A Masi; G Vendetti, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, L McLean; T Botes, E Gori; M Rizzo, L Ghiraldini, L Cittadini, Q Geldenhuys, M Bortolami, A Zanni, R Barbieri, S Parisse.

Replacements: T D'Apice, F Staibano, A Pavanello, S Favaro, F Semenzato, K Burton, G Canale.


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