Italy full-back Ange Capuozzo has been ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations wooden spoon decider against Wales.
Capuozzo, who created Italy’s winning try when they beat Wales in Cardiff two years ago, is sidelined after breaking a finger in his left hand, the Italian Rugby Federation said.
Zebre Parma’s Lorenzo Pani will wear the number 15 shirt, with two other changes from the side that defeated Scotland 31-29 last weekend seeing starts for Gloucester scrum-half Stephen Varney and Benetton number eight Lorenzo Cannone.
Varney was born in west Wales, but he qualifies for Italy via his maternal grandparents.
Italy will avoid finishing bottom of the Six Nations table for a ninth successive season if they defeat Wales, and they go into the game four points above their hosts.
— Italrugby (@Federugby) March 14, 2024
Italy team to play Wales in Six Nations
Forwards: 1 Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma), 2 Giacomo Nicotera (Benetton Rugby), 3 Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), 4 Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby), 5 Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), 6 Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby), 7 Michele Lamaro (CAPTAIN, Benetton Rugby), 8 Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby)
Backs: 9 Stephen Varney (Gloucester), 10 Paolo Garbisi (Tolone), 11 Monty Ioane (Lione), 12 Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby), 14 Louis Lynagh (Harlequins), 15 Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Parma)
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi (Benetton Rugby), 17 Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby), 18 Giosuè Zilocchi (Benetton Rugby), 19 Andrea Zambonin (Zebre Parma), 20 Ross Vintcent (Exeter), 21 Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby), 22 Martin Page-Relo (Lione), 23 Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby)