Six Nations: Castrogiovanni in for banned Parisse

Published on 22/02/2013 00:00

Martin Castrogiovanni will captain Italy in tomorrow’s RBS Six Nations clash against Wales.

The Leicester prop, winning his 94th cap, takes over from Sergio Parisse for the game at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Parisse is banned until 18 March after being sent off for 
insulting referee Laurent Cardona while playing for his club Stade Francais in a French Top 14 game against Bordeaux-Begles last weekend. He will miss Six Nations appointments with Wales, England and Ireland.

Manoa Vosawai will take over at No 8 from Parisse tomorrow. The Fiji-born player is one of six Treviso forwards in the Italian pack, the only exceptions being Castrogiovanni and fellow prop Andrea Lo Cicero, who plays for French club Racing Metro.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made three other changes from the side beaten 34-10 by Scotland at Murrayfield 12 days ago.

Half-backs Luciano Orquera and Tobias Botes have carried the can for that loss, with both of them losing their places.

Orquera is replaced by Kris Burton, with Edoardo Gori taking over from Botes. And there is a switch in the second row, where Antonio Pavanello is preferred to Quintin Geldenhuys, who drops to the bench.

Italy have beaten Wales on two previous Six Nations 
occasions in Rome – in 2003 and 2007 – and it will be the countries’ first championship meeting at the Stadio Olimpico.