ITALY BOSS KIERAN Crowley has handed wing Paolo Odogwu and second row Dino Lamb their Test debuts in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up Test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium [KO 8pm, RTÉ].
The clash in Dublin will be Ireland’s first warm-up game, with Andy Farrell due to name his selection at 2pm today.
The Italians have included former England U20 internationals Odogwu and Lamb, who were both born in England but qualify for the Azzurri through their families.
Odogwu was called-up to the senior England squad in 2021 but didn’t win a cap and has now switched his international allegiance to Italy ahead of the World Cup. He has signed for Italian club Benetton ahead of next season, while Lamb plays with Harlequins in England.
Meanwhile, Crowley has brought Montpellier’s Paolo Garbisi in at out-half after last weekend’s defeat to Scotland.
Tommaso Allan moves to fullback in a much-changed selection that features frontline centre pairing Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex, as well as exciting Lyon wing Monty Ioane, who missed this year’s Six Nations.
Federico Ruzza captains the side again from the second row, with regular skipper Michele Lamaro included on the bench in a strong-looking Italian matchday 23. Zebre prop Paolo Buonfiglio is set for his debut as a replacement.
Italy (v Ireland):
- 15. Tommaso Allan
- 14. Paolo Odogwu
- 13. Juan Ignacio Brex
- 12. Tommaso Menoncello
- 11. Montanna Ioane
- 10. Paolo Garbisi
- 9. Stephen Varney
- 1. Danilo Fischetti
- 2. Giacomo Nicotera
- 3. Marco Riccioni
- 4. Dino Lamb
- 5. Federico Ruzza (captain)
- 6. Sebastian Negri
- 7. Manuel Zuliani
- 8. Toa Halafihi
Replacements:
- 16. Luca Bigi
- 17. Paolo Buonfiglio
- 18. Simone Ferrari
- 19. Niccolò Cannone
- 20. Michele Lamaro
- 21. Lorenzo Cannone
- 22. Alessandro Fusco
- 23. Lorenzo Pani
Referee: Mathieu Raynal [FFR].
