Rugby-Italy make nine changes to take on Wallabies


FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Pool A - France v Italy - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - October 6, 2023 Italy's Federico Ruzza reacts REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

PERTH, July 16 (Reuters) - Italy ⁠have made nine changes to their side to ⁠take on Australia in the Nations Championship on ‌Saturday, after losing their opening two games to Japan and New Zealand.

• Giulio Marini earns his first test start after making his debut ​against the All Blacks last weekend, ⁠partnering the experienced Federico ⁠Ruzza in the second row.

• Lorenzo Pani returns at fullback ⁠after ‌being injured early against Japan, while Monty Ioane comes in on the wing and Paolo Odogwu ⁠makes his first appearance in the new competition.

• ​Alessandro Garbisi ‌takes the place of Stephen Varney at scrumhalf and ⁠pairs up ​with his brother Paolo.

• Tommaso Allan and Lorenzo Cannone drop out after suffering injuries last Saturday, when Allan fractured a ⁠rib and Cannone broke a bone ​in his foot.

• Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has become the first coach suspended under World Rugby's new Match Official Abuse ⁠Sanction Process after comments about refereeing following his side's defeat to New Zealand last Saturday.

Team: 15-Lorenzo Pani, 14-Louis Lynagh, 13-Juan Ignacio Brex, 12-Paolo Odogwu, 11-Monty Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, ​9-Alessandro Garbisi, 8-Ross Vintcent, 7-Michele Lamaro (captain), ⁠6-Riccardo Favretto, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Giulio Marini, 3-Marco Riccioni, 2-Gianmarco Lucchesi, ​1-Muhamed Hasa

Replacements: 16-Pablo Dimcheff, 17-Danilo Fischetti, ‌18-Ion Neculai, 19-Andrea Zambonin, 20-Alessandro Ortombina, ​21-Alessandro Fusco, 22-Giacomo Da Re, 23-Leonardo Marin.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Atlanta; Editing by Toby Davis)

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