Matteo Minozzi has been recalled by Italy for Saturday’s clash with England as the Azzurri chase a first win of this year’s Guinness Six Nations.
Minozzi missed last weekend’s 50-17 defeat to Ireland, instead playing for club side Wasps in the Premiership final at Twickenham.
But he is brought straight back in by head coach Franco Smith, replacing Jayden Hayward at full-back.
That is the only change Italy have made, with Smith keeping faith with talented young fly-half Paolo Garbisi after an encouraging debut last weekend, which he finished with a maiden international try.
He is joined at half-back by Marcello Violi, while Carlo Canna and Luca Morisi join forces in the centres.
The Azzurri’s other try-scorer from last weekend’s defeat in Dublin, Edoardo Padovani, keeps his place on the right wing and forms a back three with Mattia Bellini and full-back Minozzi.
Hooker Luca Bigi is once again given the captain’s armband and is sandwiched between props Danilo Fischetti and Giosue Zilocchi, while Marco Lazzaroni and Niccolo Cannone start in the second row.
Sebastian Negri and Braam Steyn will play at flanker, while Jake Polledri continues at No.8.
There is one further change on the bench for Italy, with Guglielmo Palazzani replacing Callum Braley.
“In Ireland we saw flashes of our game and something positive, but we are aware that we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Smith said.
“We are a young team that wants to emerge. We continue on our way to build a precise identity “
Italy team to face England in Round 5 of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations
15 Matteo MINOZZI (Wasps, 19 caps)
14 Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
13 Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)
12 Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 27 caps)
11 Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 26 caps)
10 Paolo GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
9 Marcello VIOLI (Zebre Rugby Club, 16 caps)
8 Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, 17 caps)
7 Braam STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)
6 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 26 caps)
5 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
4 Marco LAZZARONI (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
3 Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Rugby Club, 6 caps)
2 Luca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 28 caps) – capitano
1 Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 4 caps)
Replacements
16 Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
17 Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 30 caps)
18 Pietro CECCARELLI (Brive, 10 caps)
19 David SISI (Zebre Rugby Club, 10 caps)
20 Johan MEYER (Zebre Rugby Club 5 caps)
21 Maxime MBANDA’ (Zebre Rugby Club, 21 caps)
22 Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 39 caps)
23 Federico MORI (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, 1 cap)
