For the third successive match, Exiles Danilo Fischetti and Luca Morisi will start for Kieran Crowley’s Italy as they prepare for their final Autumn Nations Series clash, hosting South Africa this weekend.
The match kicks-off at 1pm this Saturday (19th) at the Stadio Ferrari in Genoa and will be streamed live on Amazon Prime Sport.
Both have contributed to Italy’s 100% return from the November internationals, initially taking a convincing 49-17 win against Samoa before an historic first win over Dave Rennie’s Wallabies, the first time in 19 attempts.
Fischetti made eight tackles and helped secure Italy’s 100% own scrum record, as well as winning a scrum turnover penalty against Australia with Morisi making the most tackles of any back in the game (10), assisting Pierre Bruno’s opening try also.
Whilst the Springboks come into the match as reigning world champions, Rassie Erasmus’ side are yet to taste victory this autumn after close defeats in both Dublin and Paris.
Italy squad to face South Africa
15 Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 6 caps)
14 Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 6 caps)
13 Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)
12 Luca MORISI (London Irish, 38 caps)
11 Montanna IOANE (Melbourne Rebels, 16 caps)
10 Tommaso ALLAN (Harlequins, 65 caps)
9 Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 14 caps)
8 Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
7 Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 20 caps) – captain
6 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 39 caps)
5 Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 35 caps)
4 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
3 Pietro CECCARELLI (CA Brive, 23 caps)
2 Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
1 Danilo FISCHETTI (London Irish, 24 caps)
Replacements
16 Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
17 Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
18 Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 39 caps)
19 David SISI (Zebre Parma, 26 caps)
20 Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
21 Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
22 Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 39 caps)
23 Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
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