Italy face Rugby World Cup hosts France, for their final round match in the competition’s pool stages. After sitting at second in Pool A just a fortnight ago, the Azzurri now have the odds of progression stacked against them after their emphatic 96-17 loss to the All Blacks.
Kieran Crowley’s men have dropped down to third in the pool, with their odds of progressing into the knock-out stages slim, but not impossible. The complicated Rugby World Cup permutations present the Italians with an uphill battle if they want to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Italy and New Zealand are currently level on points with 10 each. The All Blacks are expected to record a heavy win over Uruguay, so the Azzurri would need to gain all five points against France to stay in the fight. This would then see France, New Zealand and Italy level with 15 points, with the All Blacks and Azzurri progressing on points difference, and via the ‘head to head rule’ between Italy and France.
Complexities aside, Italy must win, and Crowley has shuffled the deck, with five changes from the side who were comfortably beaten by the All Blacks. Simone Ferrari, Hame Faiva and Pietro Ceccarelli form a completely new front row, while Niccolò Cannone returns to locks to partner Federico Ruzza. Pierre Bruno starts on the right-wing for Crowley’s fifth change, for his first start at the tournament.
Star backs Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi and Ange Capuozzo all present their versatilities, in a drastic switch-up of positions in the back-line. Tommaso Allan moves back to fly-half after starting at fullback last week. Paolo Garbisi returns to inside-centre after wearing the number 10 jersey against the All Blacks, and Ange Capuozzo moves to full-back after playing three of his past four tests on the right-wing.
If used off the bench, Zebre hooker Marco Manfredi will make his Rugby World Cup debut. He has played only 32 minutes of test rugbysince making his debut against Scotland in the 2023 Six Nations. Prop Simone Ferrari will play his 50th test, as will Luca Morisi if used off the bench.
ITALY TEAM TO PLAY FRANCE
15. Ange Capuozzo
14. Pierre Bruno
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Paolo Garbisi
11. Montanna Ioane
10. Tommaso Allan
9. Stephen Varney
1. Simone Ferrari
2. Hame Faiva
3. Pietro Ceccarelli
4. Niccolo Cannone
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Michele Lamaro (c)
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16 Marco Manfredi
17 Federico Zani
18 Marco Riccioni
19 David Sisi
20 Manuel Zuliani
21 Alessandro Fusco
22 Luca Morisi
23 Lorenzo Pani