Conor O’Shea Names His First Six Nations Italy Side

Can Conor O’Shea’s side cause another upset?

Italy boss Conor O’Shea has retained 10 of his side that beat Springboks for their Six Nations opener on Sunday with Wales.

Edoardo Gori will form a half-back partnership with Carlo Canna in a new look Azzuri side that will be hoping to pull off a huge scalp this weekend by defeating Rob Howley’s Wales in Rome.

Sergio Parisse once again captains the side for his 122nd cap, and is part of a new look back-row featuring Maxime Mata M’Banda and Abraham Steyn.

Italy:

15. Edoardo Padovani
14. Giulio Bisegni
13. Tommaso Benvenuti
12. Luke McLean
11. Giovanbattista Venditti
10. Carlo Canna
9. Edoardo Gori

8. Sergio Parisse (capt)
7. Maxime Mata M’Banda
6. Abraham Steyn
5. George Biagi
4. Marco Fuser
3. Lorenzo Cittadini
2. Ornel Gega
1. Andrea Lovotti

Replacements:

16. Leonardo Ghiraldini
17. Sami Panico
18. Pietro Ceccarelli,
19. Joshua Furno
20. Francesco Minto
21. Giorgio Bronzini
22. Tommaso Allan
23. Michele Campagnaro.