Australia v Italy, Rugby World Cup, September 11
Zanni and Ghiraldini return for Italy
ESPNscrum Staff
September 9, 2011
Italy's Alessandro Zanni is tackled by Japan's Ryukoliniasi Holani, Italy v Japan, Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena, Italy, August 13, 2011
Zanni in action against Japan in a World Cup warm-up game © Getty Images
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Teams: Australia | Italy

Italy head coach Nick Mallett has named his side for the opening Pool C clash against Australia on Sunday.

Mallett makes two changes from the side that lost 23-12 to Scotland in their final warm-up match with Paul Derbyshire dropping to the bench and Alessandro Zanni winning a place in the back-row alongside captain Sergio Parisse and openside flanker Robert Barbieri. Leonardo Ghiraldini is selected ahead of Fabio Ongaro at hooker, linking up with Martin Castrogiovanni and Andrea Lo Cicero in the front row.

Luciano Orquera continues at fly-half alongside scrum-half Fabio Semenzato in an unchanged backs line-up while Luke McLean comes on to the bench as cover for the back three and centres.

Italy: Andrea Masi: Tommaso Benvenuti, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco; Luciano Orquera, Fabio Semenzato; Andrea Lo Cicero, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni; Carlo del Fava, Cornelius van Zyl; Alessandro Zanni, Robert Barbieri, Sergio Parisse (c)

Replacements: Tommaso D'Apice, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Bortolami, Paul Derbyshire, Edoardo Gori, Riccardo Bocchino, Luke McLean

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