Campo starts against Japan

By Mark Stevens
14/6/18

Exeter Chiefs star Michele Campagnaro will start again for Italy ahead of their second Test match against Japan at the Noevir Stadium in Kobe on Saturday.

Azzurri coach Conor O'Shea has made two changes to his side as they look to earn revenge for their 34-17 defeat last week.

"We want to finish the tour and the season with a positive result and have worked hard this week with that objective," said O'Shea.

"If we put in the performance that we have been preparing and that we are capable of, then we can be satisfied.

"The result is my responsibility, I ask the players and other coaches to produce a performance that matches our standard and quality. I really believe in this group of players, not just those who will start against Japan, but all of them who have worked hard this week."

Jayden Hayward and Jake Polledri come into the starting line-up at full-back and openside flanker respectively in Kobe.

Hayward replaces Mattia Bellini, with Matteo Minozzi shifting to the wing, while Polledri, who made his debut in the final game of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations, is in for Giovanni Licata, who has dropped to the bench.

Among the replacements, prop Cherif Traoré is set for his Test debut after being named as loosehead cover.

Japan have made one change to the team that was victorious in Oita with Yoshitaga Tokunaga coming into the back row on the blindside, as Kazuki Himeno shifts to No.8 and Amanaki Mafi drops to the bench.

15. Jayden Hayward (Benetton)
14. Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton)
13. Michele Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs)
12. Tommaso Castello (Zebre)
11. Matteo Minozzi (Zebre)
10. Tommaso Allan (Benetton)
9. Marcello Violi (Zebre)
1. Andrea Lovotti (Zebre)
2. Leonardo Ghiraldini (Stade Toulousain, capt)
3. Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton)
4. Alessandro Zanni (Benetton)
5. Dean Budd (Benetton)
6. Sebastian Negri (Benetton)
7. Jake Polledri (Gloucester)
8. Abraham Steyn (Benetton)

16. Luca Bigi (Benetton)
17. Cherif Traoré (Benetton)
18. Simone Ferrari (Benetton)
19. Marco Fuser (Benetton)
20. Giovanni Licata (Fiamme Oro)
21. Tito Tebaldi (Benetton)
22. Carlo Canna (Zebre)
23. Giulio Bisegni (Zebre)