Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made eight changes to his starting XV for Saturday's Test against New Zealand in Rome.
The Azzurri have suffered defeat to the All Blacks in all 12 of their previous encounters but will be hoping their best available team can provide a stiffer challenge to the reigning world champions.
In the backs Tommaso Iannone, who made his debut at right wing in the 28-23 win over Tonga in Brescia last week, makes way for Giovambattista Venditti while Mirco Bergamasco comes in at left wing for Luke McLean, who is on the replacements bench.
Luciano Orquera comes in at fly-half for Kris Burton with Edoardo Gori reclaiming the scrum half position from Tobias Botes, who is also among the replacements.
Among the forwards there were also four changes.
Simone Favaro returns to the run-on side in favour of Robert Barbieri at openside flanker while Francesco Minto takes Joshua Furno's place in the second row.
Antonio Pavanello replaces Quintin Geldenhuys at second row while tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni, a late replacement in last week's edgy win over Tonga, starts in place of Lorenzo Cittadini.
New Zealand beat Scotland 51-22 at Murrayfield last week but have made radical changes to that side for the Rome test.
Italy 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovambattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Francesco Minto, 4 Antonio Pavanello, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Mauro Bergamasco, 21 Robert Barbieri, 22 Tobias Botes, 23 Luke McLean.
Date: Saturday, November 17
Kick-off: 15:00 local (14:00 GMT)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Peter Allan (Scotland)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Comments
Lucasrg says...
@masar
Kinda agree...Barbieri should start 8. Orquera at 10...that's a pfft. He has to prove us wrong
Posted 19:56 16th November 2012
lele says...
Ohmygod!!! If the black scrum can match the italian scrum (and no doubt they will match it) i want to see the destruction that the backs will make to their counterparts... Sgarbi and benvenuti against ma'a and snake....ohmygod...
Posted 21:35 15th November 2012
masar says...
parisse... pfff... M_A_R_K_E_T_I_N_G
Posted 15:28 15th November 2012