Vunisa set for debut as Azzurri tackle Springboks

20 November 2014 03:31

Fiji-born flanker Samuela Vunisa will make his Italy debut against South Africa on Saturday in the only change to the side that lost to Argentina last week.

Vunisa, who has yet to play for Italy after being called into the squad for the November Tests, will replace Simone Favaro in the back row after the Treviso player suffered a sore neck in training.

In the only other notable switch, Leonardo Sarto has been pulled back to the right wing with Luke McLean going the other way to the left wing.

South Africa, who suffered a 29-15 loss to Ireland in their opening test in Dublin, made amends with a 31-28 win over England at Twickenham last week and are expected to claim what would be their 12th consecutive win over the Azzurri at Padua's Stadio Euganeo.

Italy opened their series with a 24-13 win over Samoa, where New Zealand-born fly half Kelly Haimona kicked 14 points on his debut. Haimona also kicked 15 points against the Pumas in a 20-18 defeat last week.

Italy team for South Africa (15-1)

Andrea Masi; Leonardo Sarto, Michele Campagnaro, Luca Morisi, Luke McLean; Kelly Haimona, Edoardo Gori; Sergio Parisse (capt), Samuela Vunisa, Alessandro Zanni; Joshua Furno, Quintin Geldenhuys; Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Matias Aguero

Replacements: Andrea Manici, Alberto De Marchi, Dario Chistolini, Marco Bortolami, Francesco Minto, Guglielmo Palazzani, Luciano Orquera, Giulio Toniolatti

Source: AFP