Jacques Brunel has named the Italy team to take on Ireland this weekend in Rome. Sergio Parisse captains the side from number eight and is joined in an experienced back row by Alessandro Zanni and Francesco Minto.
There are over 200 caps in the front row where Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Matias Aguero will look to put pressure on in the scrum. Wasps’ Andrea Masi will provide a solid platform from the back, while the live-wire Michele Campagnaro starts again at outside centre.
Italy team to play Ireland:
15 Andrea MASI (London Wasps, 87 caps)
14 Leonardo SARTO (Zebre Rugby, 12 caps)
13 Michele CAMPAGNARO (Benetton Treviso, 12 caps)
12 Luca MORISI (Benetton Treviso, 9 caps)
11 Luke MCLEAN (Sale Sharks, 63 caps)
10 Kelly HAIMONA (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps)
9 Edoardo GORI (Benetton Treviso, 37 caps)
8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 108 caps) – capitano
7 Francesco MINTO (Benetton Treviso, 11 caps)
6 Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Treviso, 86 caps)
5 George Fabio BIAGI (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps)
4 Joshua FURNO (Newcastle Falcons, 23 caps)
3 Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Toulon RC, 107 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)
1 Matias AGUERO (Zebre Rugby, 29 caps)
Replacements:
16 Andrea MANICI (Zebre Rugby, 6 caps)
17 Alberto DE MARCHI (Sale Sharks, 23 caps)
18 Dario CHISTOLINI (Zebre Rugby, 5 caps)
19 Marco FUSER (Benetton Treviso, 2 caps)
20 Marco BARBINI (Benetton Treviso, debutant)
21 Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby, 5 caps)
22 Tommaso ALLAN (USAP Perpignan, 10 caps)
23 Giovambattista VENDITTI (Zebre Rugby, 22 caps)