Campagnaro on Italy bench

By Mark Stevens
9/2/17

Exeter Chiefs back Michele Campagnaro has again been named on the bench by Italy ahead of their RBS Six Nations encounter with Ireland in Rome on Saturday.

The 23-year-old came off the bench during last weekend's 33-7 loss at home to Wales, but is not one of a handful of changes Conor O'Shea has made to his line-up.

Lock Andries Van Schalkwyk and flanker Simone Favaro, who were left out of the opener against Wales, return to the starting line-up as does Angelo Esposito, who starts on the right wing with Giulio Bisegni dropping out of the match-day squad.

Leonardo Ghiraldini returns at hooker in place of Ornel Gega, while Maxime Mbanda, who came on as openside flanker for Simone Favaro against Wales, will start on the blindside, leaving Abraham Steyn on the bench.

Italy team to play Ireland: Edoardo Padovani, Angelo Esposito, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke Mclean, Giovanbattista Venditti, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Gori, Sergio Parisse, Simone Favaro, Maxime Mbanda, Andries Van Schalkwyk, Marco Fuser, Lorenzo Cittadini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti.

Replacements: Ornel Gega, Sami Panico, Dario Chistolini, George Biagi, Abraham Steyn, Giorgio Bronzini, Tommaso Allan, Michele Campagnaro.