Italy blend youth and experience vs NZ
Nov 10, 2016 - 12:43 PM Italy will rely on a blend of youth and experience when they face New Zealand in Rome on Saturday in new coach Conor O'Shea's first test on home soil.Scrum-half Giorgio Bronzini will make his international debut in an untested half-back pairing with Carlo Canna, who has 12 caps, against an All Blacks side looking to get back on track after a shock 40-29 defeat by Ireland in Chicago on Saturday.
Irishman O'Shea, who is gunning to emulate his compatriots' success against a team Italy has not beaten in 14 meetings, has handed skipper Sergio Parisse a record 120th cap in the back row.
Veteran hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini also comes into the side, with Australian-born Luke McLean at inside centre.
Fullback Edoardo Padovani is at the heart of a back three that has 12 international caps between them, along with wings Giulio Bisegni and Angelo Esposito.
Italian team to face the All Blacks (15-1):
Edoardo Padovani, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke Mclean, Angelo Esposito, Carlo Canna, Giorgio Bronzini, Sergio Parisse, Simone Favaro, Maxime Mbanda, Andries Van Schalkwyk, Marco Fuser, Lorenzo Cittadini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti
Source: AAP
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