Returning Parisse leads Italy

Editor

Sergio Parisse returns to captain Italy against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday after missing their first two warm-up games.

The talismanic Azzurri skipper was rested after a gruelling end to the season with club side Stade Français, but comes back in at number eight as Italy look to bounce back from their hammering at Murrayfield a week ago.

He is not the only returning player, with Edoardo Gori back from suspension to provide some experience in the half-backs.

There are seven changes in all, with Andrea Masi, Leonardo Sarto and Gonzalo Garcia added to the backline.

Up front, Michele Rizzo starts at loosehead prop, while Quintin Geldenhuys comes in for Marco Fuser in the second-row.

This is Italy's last warm-up game before the World Cup, where they kick off against France at the Olympic Stadium.

Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Michele Rizzo.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Luke McLean.

Date: Saturday, September 5
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 17:00 local
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Greg Garner (England), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)