Six Nations: Italy make two injury-enforced changes for Scotland clash

Adam Kyriacou 10 Mar 2022 7:44 AM

Ireland head coach Kieran Crowley has made two changes to his starting XV for their Round Four clash with Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Both alterations are injury-enforced as Callum Braley comes in for Stephen Varney at scrum-half while Giacomo Nicotera makes his bow at hooker because of Gianmarco Lucchesi and Hame Faiva’s absence due to an elbow injury and suspension respectively.

Crowley has kept faith with the remainder of his line-up that fell to Ireland as the Azzurri look to bounce back with a rare victory in the Six Nations.

Michele Lamaro skippers the Azzurri

The in-form Michele Lamaro leads the side once again and is joined by Giovanni Pettinelli and Toa Halafihi in their back-row at the Stadio Olimpico.

Hooker Nicotera packs down alongside Danilo Fischetti and Pietro Ceccarelli, while Federico Ruzza and Niccolò Cannone continue as the lock pairing.

Braley is joined by fly-half Paolo Garbisi while Leonardo Marin and Juan Ignacio Brex are the centres and Pierre Bruno, Monty Ioane and Edoardo Padovani complete the side, with Grenoble youngster Ange Capuozzo poised to make his international debut if he comes off the replacements bench this weekend.

Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Pierre Bruno, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Montanna Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Callum Braley, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Giovanni Pettinelli, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 David Sisi, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Marco Zanon, 23 Ange Capuozzo

Date: Saturday, March 12
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 15:15 local (14:15 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

Italy