Italy make two changes

Brunel brings Bortolami and Canale into side to face England

Last Updated: February 8, 2012 3:15pm

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Marco Bortolami: Back in starting XV for the clash with England

Sky Bet

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made two changes to the side for the RBS Six Nations clash against England in Rome on Saturday.

Aironi lock Marco Bortolami will earn his 90th cap with as he replaces Benetton Treviso's Cornelius Van Zyl in the second row.

Bortolami will partner club team-mate Quintin Geldenhuys, while Clermont-Auvergne centre Gonzalo Canale comes in for Alberto Sgarbi, who has been omitted from the squad.

Brunel has also made three alterations to his bench.

Benetton Treviso captain Antonio Pavanello could make his Six Nations debut this weekend while 20-year-old centre Luca Morisi has a chance to earn his first bow with Italy.

Also, veteran flanker Mauro Bergamasco has also been included in the 22-man squad after recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of last year's tournament and of last weekend's 30-12 loss to France at the Stade de France.

Saturday's game will be Italy's first-ever Six Nations game at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, with the venue expected to be sold out.

Italy team to face England: 15 A Masi (Aironi Rugby), 14 G Venditti (Aironi Rugby), 13 T Benvenuti (Benetton Treviso), 12 G Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), 11 L McLean (Benetton Treviso), 10 K Burton (Benetton Treviso), 9 E Gori (Benetton Treviso); 1 A Lo Cicero (Racing-Metro Paris), 2 L Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), 3 M Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers), 4 Q Geldenhuys (Aironi Rugby), 5 M Bortolami (Aironi Rugby), 6 A Zanni (Benetton Treviso), 7 R Barbieri (Benetton Treviso), 8 S Parisse (Stade Francais).
Replacements: 16 T D'Apice (Aironi Rugby), 17 L Cittadini (Benetton Treviso), 18 A Pavanello (Benetton Treviso), 19 Mauro Bergamasco (Aironi Rugby), 20 F Semenzato (Benetton Treviso), 21 T Botes (Benetton Treviso), 22 L Morisi (BancaMonte Parma Crociati).