Italy name much-changed line-up for England encounter

Italy head coach Conor O'Shea has named a much-changed line-up for the upcoming encounter against England in Newcastle on Friday.

Captain and veteran number eight Sergio Parisse has been rested with second-row Dean Budd leading the side and will form a second row partnership with David Sisi.

Carlo Canna will take over kicking responsibility from Tommaso Allan and will form half back partnership with Callum Braley. Jayden Hayward has retained his fullback position with Mattia Bellini and Edoardo Padovani at wings.

Giulio Bisegni and Tommaso Benvenuti will form centre partnership with Jimmy Tuivaiti, Abraham Steyn and Sebastian Negri at back row and Simone Ferrari, Oliviero Fabiani and Nicola Quaglio at front row.

Following the game against England, Italy will kick-start their World Cup campaign with a clash against Namibia in Osaka on 22nd September.

Italy starting line-up: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Mattia Bellini, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Tommaso Benvenuti, 11 Edoardo Padovani, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Callum Braley, 8 Jimmy Tuivaiti, 7 Abraham Steyn, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Dean Budd (c), 4 David Sisi, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Nicola Quaglio

Replacements: 16 Federico Zani, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Alessandro Zanni, 21 Maxime Mbanda, 22 Guglielmo Palazzani, 23 Tommaso Allan