Italy resist changes for Canada clash

Italy coach John Kirwan has made just the one change for the Azzurri’s crunch Pool D game against Canada next week.

Mirco Bergamasco got the nod to start in Canberra on Tuesday ahead of “tired” winger Nicola Mazzucato, with Kirwan excited by the 20-year-old’s enthusiasm and invention.

Having begun with a defeat to New Zealand, Italy emerged from a tough encounter against Tonga with an impressive victory, but there will be no complacency in the Azzurri camp.

“Canada are much stronger than Tonga, but they have a similar style of play,” he said.

“This has always been our major game as far as we are concerned as a staff and as players.”

Kirwan was impressed with the manner in which Canada had competed against the All Blacks yesterday, and that just reconfirmed what a crucial game it will be in Canberra.

Italy: G Canale, M Bergamasco, C Stoica, M Dallan, D Dallan; R Wakarua, A Troncon (captain); A Lo Cicero, F Ongaro, L Castrogeovanni, S Dellape, M Bortolami, A De Rossi, A Persico, S Parisse.

Replacements: C Festuccia, S Pergini, C Checchinato, S Palmer, M Mazzantini, F Mazzariol, A Masi.