South Africa-born Exeter flanker Ross Vintcent makes his first start at No 8 for Italy when the Azzurri face France in the Six Nations in Lille on Sunday.
Martin Page-Relo will also start at scrumhalf, lining up with Paolo Garbisi at halfback, the third pairing newly-installed coach Gonzalo Quesada has employed since taking the reins before the championship.
Michele Lamaro captains the side from blindside flanker.
Italy – 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Federico Mori, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Giosue Zilochhi, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Subs: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Andrea Zambonin, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Leonardo Marin.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Harry Trump/Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
