Franco Smith has named an unchanged starting XV from Italy’s Round 2 defeat to England ahead of this weekend’s clash with Ireland at Stadio Olimpico.
The Azzurri go into the weekend looking for their first victory of the 2021 Championship, having also been defeated by France in Round 1, while the visitors are also yet to record a victory.
Monty Ioane continues on the wing in Rome, fresh from his first try for his country in the defeat at Twickenham last time out, while Jacopo Trulla and Luca Sperandio complete the back three.
Juan Ignacio Brex and Carlo Canna continue in the centres, with the latter set to make his 50th international appearance against the Men in Green, making him the most capped man in the starting XV.
Paolo Garbisi and Stephen Varney are the half-backs once more, while Michele Lamaro takes his place at No.8 alongside flankers Sebastian Negri and Johan Meyer.
Luca Bigi will captain the side for the 11th time this weekend as he lines up at hooker for his 34th international cap, with Marco Riccioni and Andrea Lovotti as props, while David Sisi and Marco Lazzaroni complete the XV in the second row.
Italy’s attentions turn to fierce Ireland clash
On the bench, Smith has Gianmarco Lucchesi, Cherif Traorè, Giosue Zilocchi and Niccolo Cannone, as well as Maxime Mbandà, Callum Braley and Mattia Bellini to call one, with the latter two included in the squad for the first time this year.
Ahead of the match Smith said: “We worked a lot on ourselves, focusing on our game plan. Against Ireland we aim to show the same attitude we showed in the last match with the aim of taking another step forward on our path.”
Italy team to face Ireland:
15 Jacopo TRULLA (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, 5 caps)
14 Luca SPERANDIO (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
13 Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
12 Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 49 caps)
11 Montanna IOANE (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)
10 Paolo GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
9 Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 5 caps)
1 Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 44 caps)
2 Luca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 34 caps) – captain
3 Marco RICCIONI (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps)
4 Marco LAZZARONI (Benetton Rugby, 13 caps) 5 David SISI (Zebre Rugby Club, 13 caps)
6 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 30 caps)
7 Johan MEYER (Zebre Rugby Club, 11 caps)
8 Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
Replacements
16 Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
17 Cherif TRAORE (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
18 Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Rugby Club, 12 caps)
19 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
20 Maxime MBANDA (Zebre Rugby Club, 26 caps)
21 Callum BRALEY (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps)
22 Federico MORI (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, 6 caps)
23 Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 28 caps)
