Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Ireland v Italy - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - February 11, 2024 Italy's Ange Capuozzo in action with Ireland's Craig Casey REUTERS/Lorraine O'sullivan/File Photo
(Reuters) - Italy have made three changes to their side to face Wales in their final Six Nations Championship clash in Cardiff on Saturday as Lorenzo Pani comes in to replace the injured Ange Capuozzo at fullback.
The lively Capuozzo fractured a finger in the 31-29 victory over Scotland last weekend and has been ruled out, having been a key figure for the side when they defeated Wales 22-21 in their last visit to the Principality Stadium in 2022.
Other changes see Stephen Varney start at scrumhalf ahead of Martin Page-Relo, who drops to the bench, and Lorenzo Cannone comes in at number eight in place of Ross Vintcent, who is also among the replacements.
Paolo Garbisi keeps his place at flyhalf, while Louis Lynagh, who scored a try on his debut in the win over the Scots, and Monty Ioane are on the wings. The centre pairing is made up of Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex.
Cannone is joined in the back three by captain Michele Lamaro and Sebastian Negri, while brother Niccolo Cannone and Federico Ruzza make up the second row.
Hooker Giacomo Nicotera will have props Danilo Fischetti and Simone Ferrari either side of him.
Italy can complete a best ever Six Nations campaign with victory against the Welsh, who have lost all four of their matches so far this season.
Following a 13-13 draw against France in which Garbisi missed a kick for victory with the final play of the game, adding another win to their Scotland success would be an improvement on all previous years.
Italy could finish as high as third in the table with a bonus point victory but would need Scotland and France to lose their final matches to Ireland and England respectively.
Italy team:
15-Lorenzo Pani, 14-Louis Lynagh, 13-Ignacio Brex, 12-Tommaso Menoncello, 11-Monty Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Stephen Varney, 8-Lorenzo Cannone, 7-Michele Lamaro (captain), 6-Sebastian Negri, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Niccolo Cannone, 3-Simone Ferrari, 2-Giacomo Nicotera, 1-Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17-Mirco Spagnolo, 18-Giosue Zilocchi, 19-Andrea Zambonin, 20-Ross Vintcent, 21-Manuel Zuliani, 22-Martin Page-Relo, 23-Leonardo Marin
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris)
