Planet Rugby

Preview: Aironi v Munster

09th March 2012 13:51

SKY_MOBILE David Wallace

On the bench: David Wallace

Aironi host play-off hopefuls Munster on Sunday in their rearranged PRO12 game at Stadio Zaffanella in Viadana.

David Wallace makes a return to action from the bench while Mike Sherry makes his first start since September having suffered an ankle injury.

Included in the XV is Simon Zebo who missed the game against the Dragons through international commitments while Tomas O'Leary's call-up to the Ireland side means a place on the bench for Academy player Cathal Sheridan.

Sunday's game will be Aironi's third home fixture in a row, with this match was called off one month ago due to heavy snowfall in Italy.

Coach Rowland Phillips faces up to several injuries, suspensions and players away on international duty and subsequently makes five changes to his starting line-up. The most notable news is Tito Tebaldi starting at full-back, while Matteo Pratichetti is back in action at outside centre alongside Gabriel Pizarro. Riccardo Pavan and Sinoti Sinoti retain their place on the wings.

A new half-back combination sees Italian international fly-half Luciano Orquera start for the first time in a couple of months after returning from injury last week in the game against Leinster. Tyson Keats will play at scrum-half.

The only new face in the pack is Filippo Ferrarini replacing Simone Favaro at flanker in a back-row line-up completed by number eight Josh Sole and openside flanker Nicola Cattina. Carlo Del Fava is able to play after being hurt against Leinster and plays in the second-row with George Biagi. In the front-row Matias Aguero and Lorenzo Romano are the props, with hooker Roberto Santamaria skippering the team for the tenth time.

Form: This match was originally postponed on 12 February due to snow. Aironi have lost their last three encounters in the RaboDirect PRO12, whilst this is the Italian's third successive home game. Munster's only loss in their last ten matches in all competitions was 17-33 in Ulster in the PRO12 on 30 December. The Munstermen are attempting to complete their clean sweep of victories over Italian sides this season. Munster have comfortably won all three previous meetings with Aironi.

The teams:

Aironi: 15 Tito Tebaldi, 14 Riccardo Pavan, 13 Matteo Pratichetti, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Nicola Cattina, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 5 Carlo Del Fava, 4 George Biagi, 3 Lorenzo Romano, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Salvatore Perugini, 19 Filippo Cazzola, 20 Emiliano Caffini, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Naas Olivier, 23 Alberto Benettin.

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Denis Hurley, 13 Save Tokula, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Scott Deasy, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 Peter Butler, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll (capt), 4 Billy Holland, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Ian Nagle, 20 David Wallace, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Luke O'Dea.

Date: Sunday, March 11
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT)
Venue: Stadio Zaffanella, Viadana
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Filippo Bertelli (Italy), Stefano Traversi (Italy)

Comments

Be the first to comment on this story..


Character Count : 0/1900

Forthcoming Fixtures
FixtureDetails
All times are local
International Match
Sunday , May 26
England vs Barbarians13:00
More International Match fixtures
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , May 25
Leicester vs Northampton15:00
More Aviva Premiership fixtures
RaboDirect PRO12
Saturday , May 25
Ulster vs Leinster16:45
More RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures
Top 14
Friday , May 24
Toulon vs Toulouse21:00
Saturday , May 25
Clermont Auvergne vs Castres16:30
More Top 14 fixtures
Super Rugby
Friday , May 24
Chiefs vs Crusaders08:35
Melbourne Rebels vs Waratahs10:40
Saturday , May 25
Blues vs Brumbies08:35
Western Force vs Highlanders10:40
Southern Kings vs Cheetahs16:00
Stormers vs Reds16:05
Sharks vs Bulls18:10
More Super Rugby fixtures
Recent Results
FixtureDetails
All times are local
Heineken Cup
Saturday , May 18
Clermont Auvergne 15 - 16 ToulonClermont Auvergne vs Toulon Report
More Heineken Cup results
Super Rugby
Crusaders 23 - 3 BluesCrusaders vs Blues Report
Bulls 35 - 18 HighlandersBulls vs Highlanders Report
Waratahs 28 - 22 BrumbiesWaratahs vs Brumbies Report
Cheetahs 27 - 13 RedsCheetahs vs Reds Report
More Super Rugby results
Amlin Challenge Cup
Friday , May 17
Stade Francais 13 - 34 LeinsterStade Francais vs Leinster Report
More Amlin Challenge Cup results
Super Rugby
Hurricanes 12 - 17 ChiefsHurricanes vs Chiefs Report
Melbourne Rebels 30 - 21 StormersMelbourne Rebels vs Stormers Report
Western Force 13 - 23 SharksWestern Force vs Sharks Report
More Super Rugby results
Aviva Premiership
Sunday , May 12
Saracens 13 - 27 NorthamptonSaracens vs Northampton Report
Saturday , May 11
Leicester 33 - 16 HarlequinsLeicester vs Harlequins Report
More Aviva Premiership results
RaboDirect PRO12
Leinster 17 - 15 GlasgowLeinster vs Glasgow Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Castres 25 - 12 MontpellierCastres vs Montpellier Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Blues 36 - 32 Melbourne RebelsBlues vs Melbourne Rebels Report
Southern Kings 34 - 27 HighlandersSouthern Kings vs Highlanders Report
Waratahs 21 - 15 StormersWaratahs vs Stormers Report
More Super Rugby results
RaboDirect PRO12
Friday , May 10
Ulster 28 - 17 ScarletsUlster vs Scarlets Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Stade Francais 19 - 16 Racing Metro Paris
Toulouse 33 - 19 Racing Metro ParisToulouse vs Racing Metro Paris Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Chiefs 22 - 21 Western ForceChiefs vs Western Force Report
Reds 32 - 17 SharksReds vs Sharks Report
Cheetahs 34 - 39 HurricanesCheetahs vs Hurricanes Report
Sunday , May 5
Brumbies 23 - 30 CrusadersBrumbies vs Crusaders Report
More Super Rugby results
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , May 4
Leicester 32 - 20 London IrishLeicester vs London Irish Report
Exeter 40 - 39 GloucesterExeter vs Gloucester Report
More Aviva Premiership results