Conor O’Shea has made two changes to his Italy team for the second Test against Japan as the Azzurri look to earn revenge for their defeat last week.
Jayden Hayward and Jake Polledri come into the starting line-up at full-back and openside flanker respectively in Kobe.
Hayward replaces Mattia Bellini, with Matteo Minozzi shifting to the wing, while Polledri, who made his debut in the final game of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations, is in for Giovanni Licata, who has dropped to the bench.
Among the replacements, prop Cherif Traoré is set for his Test debut after being named as loosehead cover. Italy were beaten 34-17 in the first Test with Marcello Violi and Abraham Steyn scoring their two tries. What they said: “We want to finish the tour and the season with a positive result and have worked hard this week with that objective,” said O’Shea.
“If we put in the performance that we have been preparing and that we are capable of, then we can be satisfied.
“The result is my responsibility, I ask the players and other coaches to produce a performance that matches our standard and quality. I really believe in this group of players, not just those who will start against Japan but all of them who have worked hard this week.”
Opposition: Japan have made one change to the team that was victorious in Oita with Yoshitaga Tokunaga coming into the back row on the blindside, as Kazuki Himeno shifts to No.8 and Amanaki Mafi drops to the bench. Key Stat: Italy captain Leonardo Ghiraldini made his debut against Japan back in 2006 in Tokyo. The Azzurri won that match 52-6. Italy team to face Japan: 15. Jayden Hayward (Benetton Rugby) 14. Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Rugby) 13. Michele Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs) 12. Tommaso Castello (Zebre Rugby Club) 11. Matteo Minozzi (Zebre Rugby Club) 10. Tommaso Allan (Benetton Rugby) 9. Marcello Violi (Zebre Rugby Club)
1. Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby Club) 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini (Stade Toulousain) (c) 3. Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Rugby) 4. Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Rugby) 5. Dean Budd (Benetton Rugby) 6. Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby) 7. Jake Polledri (Gloucester Rugby) 8. Abraham Steyn (Benetton Rugby)
Replacements: 16. Luca Bigi (Benetton Rugby) 17. Cherif Traoré (Benetton Rugby) 18. Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby) 19. Marco Fuser (Benetton Rugby) 20. Giovanni Licata (Fiamme Oro) 21. Tito Tebaldi (Benetton Rugby) 22. Carlo Canna (Zebre Rugby Club) 23. Giulio Bisegni (Zebre Rugby Club)
