October 2, 2015
Rugby World Cup Lineups: Ireland v Italy
Doug Coil
October 4, 2015
Ireland v Italy, Pool D, The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, Kick off 16:45 – 11:450am ET
Referee: Jerome Garces; Assistant Referee: Pascal Gauzere, Angus Gardner; TV Match Official: Graham Hughes
Ireland has made 11 changes to the starting XV from the Romania game and with 703 caps, is their most experienced of the Rugby World Cup 2015. Captain Paul O’Connell returns to lead the side and the bench is also very experienced with 275 caps. It is their youngest side to appear so far at this RWC, averaging just under 29 years. Keith Earls needs one try to become Ireland’s outright top try scorer in Rugby World Cups.
Ireland is off to an excellent start at the RWC and looks to win its Pool.
Italy has made 5 changes from their win over Canada, with Sergio Parisse’s return as captain, the most significant. He will become the sixth Italy player to appear in four Rugby World Cups, and will make his 111th start for Italy. That places him in sixth place in RWC history. He also enter Italy’s record book in captaining the side 5 times, a new record.
Simon Favaro makes his debut RWC start at Flanker.
Ireland Ranked 4th: HC Joe Schmidt Starters: 1. Jack McGrath 2. Rory Best 3. Mike Ross 4. Iain Henderson 5. Paul O’Connell (c) 6. Peter O’Mahony 7. Sean O’Brien 8. Jamie Heaslip 9. Conor Murray 10. Jonathan Sexton 11. Dave Kearney 12. Robbie Henshaw 13. Keith Earls 14. Tommy Bowe 15. Simon Zebo Replacements: 16. Sean Cronin 17. Cian Healy 18. Nathan White 19. Devin Toner 20. Chris Henry 21. Eoin Reddan 22. Ian Madigan 23. Luke Fitzgerald
Italy Ranked 14th: HC Jacques Brunel Starters: 1. Matias Aguero 2. Andrea Manici 3. Lorenzo Cittadini 4. Ouintin Geldenhuys 5. Josh Furno 6. Francesco Minto 7. Simone Favaro 8. Sergio Parisse (c) 9. Edoardo Gori 10. Tommaso Allan 11. Giovanbattista Venditti 12. Gonzalo Garcia 13. Michele Capagnaro 14. Leonardo Sarto 15. Luke McLean Replacements: 16. Davide Giazzon 17. Michele Rizzo 18. Dario Chistolini 19. Alessandro Zanni 20. Mauro Bergamasco 21. Guglielmo Palazzani 22. Carlo Canna 23. Tommaso Benvenuti
