Conor O’Shea has made five changes to his Italy team for Sunday’s clash with Ireland in Rome including the return from injury of Tito Tebaldi.
The Benetton scrum-half was due to start the opening game of the Guinness Six Nations in Scotland, before withdrawing at the last second, to be replaced by Guglielmo Palazzani.
He was absent against Wales a week later, but has now been passed fit and comes straight into the side to partner Tommaso Allan in the half-backs.
Elsewhere there are four changes in the pack as Maxime Mbandà and Jimmy Tuivaiti come into the back row in place of Sergio Parisse and Sebastian Negri, who are suffering from concussion and illness respectively.
With Parisse out, try-scorer in Round Two Braam Steyn moves across to No.8, while Leonardo Ghiraldini takes over the captaincy.
The last two changes see lock Federico Ruzza earn a first start of the Championship after impressing off the bench to date, while Andrea Lovotti has recovered from the flu to start at loosehead prop.
On the bench there are further changes as Alessandro Zanni and Tommaso Castello come in.
Italy team to face Ireland:
15. Jayden Hayward (Benetton Rugby) 14. Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby Club) 13. Michele Campagnaro (Wasps) 12. Luca Morisi (Benetton Rugby) 11. Angelo Esposito (Benetton Rugby) 10. Tommaso Allan (Benetton Rugby) 9. Tito Tebaldi (Benetton Rugby)
1. Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby Club) 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini (Stade Toulousain) (c) 3. Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby) 4. Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby) 5. Dean Budd (Benetton Rugby) 6. Jimmy Tuivaiti (Zebre Rugby Club) 7. Maxime Mbandà (Zebre Rugby Club) 8. Braam Steyn (Benetton Rugby)
Replacements:
16. Luca Bigi (Benetton Rugby) 17. Cherif Traoré (Benetton Rugby) 18. Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Rugby) 19. David Sisi (Zebre Rugby Club) 20. Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Rugby) 21. Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre Rugby Club) 22. Ian McKinley (Benetton Rugby) 23. Tommaso Castello (Zebre Rugby Club)
