Van Schalkwyk to face his homeland

Editor

Lock Dries van Schalkwyk has been named in Italy’s starting lineup to face the Springboks in Florence on Saturday.

Coach Conor O’Shea has made changes to his side for their match against South Africa in Florence on Saturday.

The South African-born lock Dries van Schalkwyk has been named in the starting XV to face his country of birth. Two of the changes are injury enforced.

Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini and prop Andrea Lovotti were ruled out through injury, with Ornel Gega and Sami Panico coming in as their replacements. Flank Francesco Minto starts ahead of Maxime Mbanda and in the backline, Giovanbattista Venditti starts out on the wing ahead of Angelo Esposito.

O’Shea is yet to finalise his bench for the match.

Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Giulio Bisegni, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Angelo Esposito, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Giorgio Bronzini, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Maxime Mbanda, 5 Andries van Schalkwyk, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lovotti.
Replacements: TBC