Italy captain Michele Lamaro has been dropped to the bench as part of seven changes for Saturday’s Six Nations match against Ireland in Rome.
Flanker Lamaro, who had started 24 consecutive matches in the championship, is replaced by Manuel Zuliani, while centre Juan Ignacio Brex takes over the captaincy.
“Zuliani deserved the opportunity from the first minute and at the same time we want to have greater leadership on the pitch in the final stages of the game,” said head coach Gonzalo Quesada.
“The match develops over 80 minutes and the contribution of all the players on the match list will be fundamental.”
Italy were beaten 47–24 by England last weekend and are bidding to avoid the wooden spoon.
Scrum-half Martin Page-Relo and full-back Tommaso Allan return among the backs, with Ange Capuozzo moving to the wing after Matt Gallagher suffered a knee injury on his Six Nations debut at Twickenham.
Hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi and tighthead prop Simone Ferrari replace Giacomo Nicotera and Marco Riccioni in the front row, while lock Dino Lamb comes in for Niccolo Cannone to partner Federico Ruzza.
In the back row, number eight Lorenzo Cannone has been recalled, in preference to Ross Vintcent, who scored the second of his team’s three tries in London.
Italy begin the weekend a point above bottom-of-the-table Wales.
The Azzurri, who began the tournament with a 31-19 loss in Scotland, defeated the Welsh 22-15 in round two before being beaten by France and England.
— Italrugby (@Federugby) March 13, 2025
Italy team to play Ireland in Six Nations
Forwards: 1 Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma), 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon), 3 Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), 4 Dino Lamb (Harlequins), 5 Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), 6 Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby), 7 Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby), 8 Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby)
Backs: 9 Martin Page-Relo (Lione), 10 Paolo Garbisi (Toulon), 11 Monty Ioane (Lione), 12 Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (Captain, Benetton Rugby), 14 Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain), 15 Tommaso Allan (Perpignan)
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Francais), 17 Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby), 18 Giosue Zilocchi (Benetton Rugby), 19 Niccolo Cannone (Benetton Rugby), 20 Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby), 21 Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs), 22 Stephen Varney (Vannes), 23 Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby)