Italy team v Australia: Tommaso Menoncello OUT as Azzurri make nine changes following All Blacks defeat
Tommaso Menoncello (left) will not play for Italy against the Wallabies, but Michele Lamaro (right) leads out the team
Italy have made nine changes to their 23-man squad to take on the Wallabies this weekend, with the headline coming in the midfield with Tommaso Menoncello out.
The Toulouse-bound back had previously been a stalwart in the Azzurri starting XV, but drops out of the 23 altogether this weekend.
Elsewhere, Italy are also without Tommaso Allan and Lorenzo Cannone through injury, while Niccolo Cannone misses out through suspension. Head coach Gonzalo Quesada is also suspended under World Rugby’s new Match Official Abuse Sanctioning Process.
Italy make nine changes for Wallabies showdown
Lorenzo Pani gets the nod at full-back for the Test in Perth, with Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane named on the wings. Nacho Brex continues at outside centre, with Paolo Odogwu slotting in at 12 in place of Menoncello.
Paolo and Alessandro Garbisi form the starting half-back pairing, with the former named at fly-half and the latter at scrum-half.
Ross Vintcent, captain Michele Lamaro and Riccardo Favretto form the back-row unit, with Federico Ruzza and Giulio Marini named as the locks. Marco Riccioni, Gianmarco Lucchesi and Muhamed Hasa are included in the starting front-row.
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The Azzurri have named a traditional 5:3 split on the bench, with Pablo Dimcheff, Danilo Fischetti, Ion Neculai, Andrea Zambonin and Alessandro Ortombina the forward options and Alessandro Fusco, Giacomo Da Re and Leonardo Marin the backs.
Italy come to Perth looking for their first win of the Nations Championship, following back-to-back defeats against Japan and the All Blacks, but have won their previous two Tests against the Wallabies.
Italy team v Australia in full
Italy: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Paolo Odogwu, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements: 16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Alessandro Ortombina, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Leonardo Marin
Date: Saturday, 18 July, 2026
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Kick-off: 18:10 (local Perth), 11:10 (UK), 12:10 (France), 12:10 (South Africa), 20:10 (AEST), 22:10 (New Zealand), 07:10 (Argentina), 19:10 (JST), 06:10 (EDT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Broadcasters: ITV (United Kingdom), TF1 (France), Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland), Sky Italia (Italy), Wowow (Japan), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
