Italy v Romania: Rugby World Cup Pool D preview
Last Updated: 09/10/15 6:11pm
Sergio Parisse is out of Italy's last Pool D match at the World Cup, with coach Jacques Brunel making two changes to his starting XV to play Romania on Sunday.
Skipper Parisse returned from injury and played an inspirational role at No 8 in a 16-9 defeat to Six Nations champions Ireland last weekend in London but, with Italy out of contention for a quarter-finals spot, the 114-Test veteran is unavailable again.
Alessandro Zanni will take Parisse's place, and lock Quintin Geldenhuys will take over as captain.
Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini has not recovered from a thigh injury.
In the other change, Tommaso Benvenuti replaces the injured Gonzalo Garcia at inside centre.
With an average age of 27 years, 201 days, it is also Italy's youngest starting line-up at a World Cup since the 2007 tournament.
Prop Alberto De Marchi, who joined the squad at the start of the week as an injury replacement for Martin Castrogiovanni, could make his World Cup debut if he gets off the bench.
Romania, coincidently, are also without their captain and No 8. Mihai Macovei - the two-try hero of their brilliant 17-15 comeback win against Canada - is suspended for a dangerous tackle. Daniel Carpo takes over at No 8.
First-choice scrum-half Florin Surugiu misses out with a groin injury, so Valentin Calafeteanu steps in.
Italy will start the game hot favourites but Romania are just a point behind them in the pool and victory will guarantee them qualification for the 2019 World Cup.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Michele Capagnaro, 12 Tommaso Benvenuti, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori; 1 Matias Aguero, 2 Andrea Manici, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Ouintin Geldenhuys (c), 5 Josh Furno, 6 Francesco Minto, 7 Simone Favaro, 8 Alessandro Zanni.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Valerio Bernabo, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Enrico Bacchin.
Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Madalin Lemnaru, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 12 Florin Vlaicu, 11 Ionut Botezatu, 10 Michael Wiringi, 9 Valentin Calafeteanu; 1 Mihaita Lazar, 2 Otar Turashvili, 3 Paulica Ion, 4 Valentin Poparlan, 5 Johannes van Heerden, 6 Valentin Ursache (c), 7 Viorel Lucaci, 8 Daniel Carpo.
Replacements: 16 Andrei Radoi, 17 Andrei Ursache, 18 Horatiu Pungea, 19 Marius Antonescu, 20 Stelian Burcea, 21 Tudorel Bratu 22 Adrian Apostol, 23 Csaba Gal.