Parisse to miss Italy’s last clash

Italy head coach Jacques Brunel left out captain Sergio Parisse in one of two changes to his starting line-up for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup Pool D match against Romania in Exeter.

“The choice was made with the idea of winning the match, not from the heart”.

Romania, who produced the biggest comeback in World Cups when they recovered a 15-point deficit to beat Canada on Tuesday, produced a spirited rally from 29-3 down.

Ideally we would be playing them at least once a year. We want to have the best chance to win this match.

Number eight Parisse, who returned from injury in the 16-9 defeat by Ireland, was replaced by Alessandro Zanni. “He’s a very good leader and a good player, but it gives another player an opportunity”, Howells said.

Bergamasco played his first Rugby World Cup game against England at Twickenham in a 67-7 loss in 1999 and joined Samoa’s Brian Lima in an elite club with his fifth tournament appearance.

“I wasn’t really ready to start the match against Ireland, and it was physically hard (against Ireland), even those 65 minutes, and afterward my calf hurt a lot”, Parisse said.

Italy have to avoid defeat – they lead Romania by a point – to retain third place in the pool and qualify automatically for the 2019 World Cup.

Romania too are missing their captain, Mihai Macovei, suspended for a unsafe tackle.

That means Daniel Carpo will have a few big shoes to fill when he steps out at Sandy Park on Sunday, while the other change sees Valentin Calafeteanu at scrum-half in place of the injured Florin Surugiu.

With Parisse’s deputy Leonardo Ghiraldini still out with a thigh injury suffered in the 23-18 win over Canada, 34-year-old South Africa-born lock Quintin Geldenhuys takes over the captain’s armband.

Romania: Catalin Fercu; Madalin Lemnaru, Paula Kinikinilau, Florin Vlaicu, Ionut Botezatu, Michael Wiringi, Valentin Calafeteanu; Mihaita Lazar, Otar Turashvili, Paulica Ion, Valentin Poparlan, Johannes van Heerden, Valentin Ursache (captain), Viorel Lucaci, Daniel Carpo.