Massimo Brunello has confirmed his Italy team for their Six Nations Under-20s clash with Scotland as they look to get back to winning ways on Friday night.
Italy lost 39-12 to Ireland last time out at Musgrave Park, leaving them fifth in the standings after three rounds with only Scotland sitting below them ahead of their meeting.
The big team news sees Giovanni Sante handed his first start of the Championship at fly-half, taking the place of Nicolò Teneggi who drops to the bench as a result.
There is also a change on the wing as Flavio Pio Vaccari replaces Federico Cuminetti on the right, with Lorenzo Pain and Filippo Lazzarin retaining their places to complete the back three.
Dewi Passarella is joined by Arturo Fusari in midfield while the front five remain the same, with the final alterations seeing Giovanni Cenedese start alongside Ross Michael Vincent and Giacomo Ferrari.
Where To Watch: 2022 Six Nations Under-20s
Brunello said: “It is useless to hide it, we came back very angry, not to say frustrated, from the match in Ireland, because that result did not correctly translate the competitive level expressed by the players on the pitch.
“We trained well this week, drawing a great benefit from the session with Benetton Treviso that I will never cease to thank them for how they are welcoming us to this Six Nations.
“Scotland are a team that knows how to play rugby, certainly the least physical of the three we have faced so far, but still a group that has clear ideas and players who are able to interpret them at their best and with good characteristics in recovery balls.
“The changes we have decided are not determined by more or less positive evaluations on some players, but go in the direction of a necessary turnover given the overall quality of the group and the different game options on which we can work.
“Friday night we will start from our strengths, but it is clear that we need to improve the quantity and quality of possession, relying on a crowd that will truly be our extra player.”
ITALY U20 team:
15 Lorenzo PANI (Benetton Rugby Treviso Srl)
14 Flavio Pio VACCARI (Rugby Calvisano Ssd Arl)
13 Dewi PASSARELLA (Ruggers Tarvisium Asd)
12 Arturo FUSARI (GS Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma)
11 Filippo LAZZARIN (Petrarca Rugby)
10 Giovanni SANTE (Mogliano Rugby 1969)
9 Alessandro GARBISI (Mogliano Rugby 1969 Ssd Arl)
8 Giacomo FERRARI – CAP (Unione Rugby Capitolina)
7 Ross Michael Alwyn VINTCENT (I. Francescato National Academy)
6 Giovanni CENEDESE (Villorba Rugby)
5 Riccardo ANDREOLI (FEMI-CZ Rovigo)
4 Alessandro ORTOMBINA (Valorugby Emilia)
3 Riccardo GENOVESE (Cus Turin)
2 Lapo FRANGINI (Ivan Francescato National Academy)
1 Luca RIZZOLI ( Capitoline Rugby Union)
Replacements:
16 Tommaso SCRAMONCIN (Petrarca Rugby)
17 Riccardo BARTOLINI (Florentia Rugby Asd)
18 Matteo BERNARDINELLO (Petrarca Rugby)
19 David ODIASE (HBS Colorno)
20 Lizardo Rodriguez Carlos BERLESE (Ruggers Tarvisium Asd)
21 Andrea CUOGHI (Modena Rugby 1965 Soc. Coop. Sd)
22 Nicolò TENEGGI (Valorugby Emilia)
23 Francois Carlo MEY (HBS Colorno)