Azzurri welcome back Masi

Published: Friday, 30. September, 2011 in category Italy
Masi: Returns at full-back

Having been forced to pull out of the 27-10 victory over the USA as a precaution, Andrea Masi returns to full-back ahead of Luke McLean.

Rising No.10 Riccardo Bocchino and half-back partner Edoardo Gori have to settle for a place on the bench, with Luciano Orquera, a try-scorer against the Eagles, and Fabio Semenzato preferred in the starting XV.

Fabio Ongaro and Paul Derbyshire are also included on the bench despite impressing during their cameos against the US.

The Azzurri go into the game knowing a win would be enough to see them reach the last eight of the tournament for the first time.

Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Cornelius van Zyl, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini. Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Andrea lo Cicero, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Edoardo Gori, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Luke McLean