New Zealand name strong side for must-win Italy RWC clash

BACK IN: New Zealand's Jordie Barrett has recovered from injury

Flanker Shannon Frizell and centre Jordie Barrett have recovered from injuries to start for New Zealand against Italy in a must-win Rugby World Cup pool match on Friday.

New Zealand’s two other injury concerns, squad captain Sam Cane and tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax, will make their returns off the bench.

The All Blacks, with a 1-1 record in Pool A, must defeat unbeaten Italy to ensure their progress towards the quarter-finals.

With the injury list cleared up, New Zealand are starting to appear closer to full strength.

Frizell missed the All Blacks’ last three tests — including the South Africa warm-up at Twickenham — because of a hamstring issue.

Jordie Barrett’s knee complaint forced him to miss the opening two pool games against France and Namibia, and he’s the only change to the backline which faced France on opening night.

Cane was a late withdrawal before France after tweaking his back in training, and Lomax also hasn’t appeared in the Rugby World Cup yet after he was accidentally gashed in the thigh in the South Africa game.

Loosehead prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi replaces the suspended Ethan de Groot, and Brodie Retallick starts ahead of Sam Whitelock, who could come off the bench to break Richie McCaw's New Zealand’s appearance record. This would be his 149th test.

Joining Whitelock among the replacements are prop Tamaiti Williams, who could make his World Cup debut, and half backs Cam Roigard and Damian McKenzie, who starred in the 71-3 win over Namibia two weeks ago.

“We fully respect (Italy’s) growth over the last two years and are expecting a huge game with both teams having everything to play for,” coach Ian Foster said.

Meanwhile, key Italy backs Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi, and Ange Capuozzo have been rotated again. Allan, Garbisi, and Capuozzo were at 10, 12, and 15 against Uruguay last week.

But coach Kieran Crowley on Wednesday named Allan back at fullback, Capuozzo on the wing, and Garbisi at fly-half.

Lock Dino Lamb, scrum-half Stephen Varney, and inside centre Luca Morisi are also back as starters after Uruguay were overcome 38-17 from 17-7 down at half-time last week.

The changes mean Italy are restored almost to the side which won their opening match against Namibia 52-8. The only change being Saracens' Marco Riccioni at tighthead prop instead of Benetton’s Simone Ferrari, who is named among the replacements.

The bench has also been freshened with the introduction of Hame Faiva, props Ivan Nemer and Ferrari, lock Niccolo Cannone, back-rower Toa Halafihi, and scrum-half Martin Page-Relo.

“Precision and discipline will be fundamental,” Crowley said. “We will face this match with courage by continuing to strengthen our identity.”

New Zealand: B Barrett; W Jordan, R Ioane, J Barrett, M Tele’a; R Mo’unga, A Smith; O Tu’ungafasi, C Taylor, N Laulala; B Retallick, S Barrett; S Frizell, D Papali’i, A Savea (captain).

Replacements: D Coles, T Williams, T Lomax, S Whitelock, S Cane, C Roigard, D McKenzie, A Lienert-Brown.

Italy: T Allan; A Capuozzo, J I Brex, L Morisi, M Ioane; P Garbisi, St Varney; D Fisichetti, G Nicotera, M Riccioni; D Lamb, F Ruzza; S Negri, M Lamaro (captain), L Cannone

Replacements: H Faiva, I Nemer, S Ferrari, N Cannone, M Zuliani, T Halafihi, M Page-Relo, P Odogwu.