Preview: Fiji v Italy

Italy will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Scotland when they travel to face Fiji in Suva on Saturday.

The Azzurri lost 34-13 to the Scots last Saturday but coach Conor O'Shea is refusing to panic and has made just two alterations to his starting line-up.

Marcelo Violi takes over from Edoardo Gori at scrum-half while Abraham Steyn will don the number eight jersey in place of Robert Barbieri.

Meanwhile, lock Francesco Minto will captain the side for the very first time, taking over from Gori who drops out of the matchday 23 completely.

The Italians will need to show more imagination on attack than they did against Scotland. They were largely blunt, preferring to take the ball up through the forwards on the fringes of the ruck as opposed to going wide.

Also, they will need to improve their discipline as they had two players yellow-carded in last week's encounter; something which cost them dearly.

Meanwhile, Fiji coach John McKee has spoken this week of using the June Tests as preparation for their crucial upcoming Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Tonga and Samoa in July.

McKee's side went down 37-14 to the Wallabies last weekend but can take a few positives from that game. For example, they enjoyed 56 percent of the possession in the first-half.

Fiji created plenty of chances but too often pushed a pass showing a lack of patience and will need to be more clinical if they want to come away with a positive result against the Azzurri.

Players to Watch

For Fiji: Kini Murimurivalu, who plies his trade with European Champions Cup finalists Clermont, is always a threat on attack. He beat seven defenders and made 83 metres against the Wallabies last weekend. Vereniki Goneva is a prolific try-scorer having scored 16 tries in 39 starts for his country and 40 in 80 matches in the Premiership. His try last weekend against the Wallabies showcased his impressive pace despite being a ripe 33 years of age as he raced fourty metres to dot down.

For Italy: Italy's most dangerous weapon on attack is Michele Campagnaro. The outside centre was a vital cog in Exeter's charge to the Premiership title this season and stood out last weekend against the Scots bagging a try for his efforts. Leonardo Sarto, who plies his trade with Glasgow Warriors, is solid under the high ball and hard to beat on defence. Add to that his pace and ability to finish, Sarto has become one of the first names on the Azzurri teamsheet.

Head-to-head: Fiji captain Akapusi Qera is on a collision course with Azzurri flank Maxime Mbanda with both players wearing the number seven jersey for their respective sides. Both are top tacklers for their teams. Mbanda, however, has the edge on offence as he beat three defenders last weekend against Scotland, the highest number of anyone in the Azzurri side.

Previous results: 

2014: Fiji won 25-14 in Suva
2013: Italy won 37-31 in Cremona
2010: Italy won 24-16 in Modena
2006: Fiji won 29-18 in Lautoka
2005: Italy won 23-8 in Monza
2001: Italy won 66-10 in Treviso
2000: Fiji won 43-9 in Lautoka
1999: Fiji won 50-32 in L'Aquila

Prediction: It will be a tightly-contested affair but Italy have a more organised defensive structure. For this reason, Italy by 10.

Teams:

Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Jale Vatubua, 12 Eroni Vasiteri, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Serupepeli Vularika, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 3 Kalivati Tawake, 2 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Jale Sassen, 17 Joeli Veitayaki, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Viliame Mata, 21 Mosese Voka, 22 Nikola Matawalu, 23 Benito Masilevu

Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Tommaso Boni, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Abraham Steyn, 7 Maxime Mbanda’, 6 Francesco Minto (c), 5 Dean Budd, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Andrea Lovotti 
Replacements: 16 Ornel Gega, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti

Date: Saturday, June 20
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Suva
Kick-off: 14:40 local (02:40 GMT)  
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Graham Cooper (Australia)