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Italy change two for Scotland clash

PettinelliCeccarelliFischettiLamaroSB2000
Italy have made two injury-enforced changes to their team to take on Scotland in their Guinness Six Nations Round 4 clash in Rome on Saturday.

Italy have made two injury-enforced changes to their team to take on Scotland in their Guinness Six Nations Round 4 clash in Rome on Saturday.

Callum Braley replaces Stephen Varney at scrum-half after he was ruled out of the remainder of the campaign while Giacomo Nicotera will make his debut at hooker after Gianmarco Lucchesi suffered a dislocated elbow.

Elsewhere, it is the same side that took on Ireland in Round 3, with Michele Lamaro captaining the side in the back row, while Braley will combine with Paolo Garbisi in the half-backs.

Pierre Bruno and Monty Ioane start on the wings, with Edoardo Padovani completing the back three, with Leonardo Marin and Juan Ignacio Brex in the centres.

Up front, Nicotera will be joined by props Danilo Fischetti and Pietro Ceccarelli while Federico Ruzza and Niccolò Cannone continue in the second row.

Alongside Lamaro in the back row are Giovanni Pettinelli on the opposite flank and Toa Halafihi at No.8.

There are two new faces on the bench, with former captain Luca Bigi returning to offer hooker cover, while flyer Ange Capuozzo could also be in line for his debut after being included for the first time.

Kieran Crowley said: “We are taking on a team who have shown their worth in the previous outings in the Championship. We have the chance to play in front of our fans, we want to turn the page and react on the pitch with a big performance.”

Italy team to face Scotland

Italy: 15. Edoardo Padovani, 14. Pierre Bruno, 13. Juan Ignacio Brex, 12. Leonardo Marin, 11. Montanna Ioane, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Callum Braley, 1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Giacomo Nicotera, 3. Pietro Ceccarelli, 4. Niccolò Cannone, 5. Federico Ruzza, 6. Giovanni Pettinelli, 7. Michele Lamaro (c), 8. Toa Halafihi

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