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PARIS - Halfback Alessandro Troncon will captain Italy on his 101st appearance on Sunday (NZ time) after lock Marco Bortolami was ruled out of their decisive Pool C match against Scotland in St Etienne.
In a major blow to the Italians, Bortolami has not recovered from a neck problem so Santiago Dellape and Carlo Del Fava will lock the scrum for the match which will decide who goes through to the quarter-finals as runners-up behind New Zealand.
Coach Pierre Berbizier named his team on Thursday, making wholesale changes from the lineup used to beat Portugal 31-5 on September 19.
Ramiro Pez returns to first five-eighths with Roland de Marigny dropping to the bench while both wingers are changed as Kaine Robertson comes in and Andrea Masi switches from centre.
That enables Berbizier to send out a powerful centre pairing in Gonzalo Canale and Mirco Bergamasco to combat Scotland's physical midfield presence.
"We don't have Bortolami, but the match was prepared with the players I had at my disposal," Berbizier said. "Therefore, it shouldn't be a huge impact. His absence won't change our tactical game plan."
On the change at first five-eighths he said: "Pez is the one who played the most with Troncon, Mirco Bergamasco and Gonzalo Canale. It's a tactical decision to give the team more uniformity." The long break from the Portugal game has ensured that most of the squad were able to recover from knocks.
Josh Sole is fit to come in at blindside flanker alongside number eight Sergio Parisse and Mauro Bergamasco in a strong back-row unit.
There are also two changes in the front row where prop Salvatore Perugini and hooker Carlo Festuccia replace Andrea Lo Cicero and Leonardo Ghiraldini.
Scotland coach Frank Hadden will name his side later on Thursday.
- REUTERS
