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Bortolami set for milestone

Bortolami set for milestone

Italy may be ravaged with injury, but coach Jacques Brunel has still managed to select a forward pack containing 587 caps for the opening clash of the RBS 6 Nations against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (KO 2.30pm).

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Marco Bortolami will reach his 100th Test appearance for Italy while inspirational captain Sergio Parisse will be playing his 102nd match for the Azzurri.

Bortolami joins Quintin Geldenhuys in the second row and centurion Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Michele Rizzo form a formidable front row.

Among those missing in action are Wasps full-back Andrea Masi, Zebre wing Giovanbattista Venditti and La Rochelle centre Gonzalo Canale.

Tomasso Benvenuti is absent through injury which means Treviso’s Angelo Esposito will make his debut on the wing.
Esposito is joined in the back-three by Luke McLean and wing Leonardo Sarto, with Michele Campagnaro alongside Alberto Sgarbi at centre.

Tommaso Allan lines up at fly half in a combination with Edoardo Gori.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Michele Rizzo.

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Tommaso Iannone.

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Bortolami set for milestone
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Bortolami set for milestone