O'Shea makes 5 changes to Italy for opener against Wales

Italy coach Conor O'Shea has made five changes from the team that beat South Africa in November for its Six Nations opener against Wales on Sunday.

Maxime Mbanda, who is making his debut in the tournament, and Abraham Steyn will flank long-standing captain Sergio Parisse in the back row. Parisse will extend his record to 122 appearances for the Azzurri  (74 as captain) in his 14th Six Nations.

Italy: Edoardo Padovani, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke McLean, Giovanbattista Venditti, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Gori; Sergio Parisse (captain), Maxime Mbanda, Abraham Steyn, George Biagi, Marco Fuser, Lorenzo Cittadini, Ornel Gega, Andrea Lovotti. Reserves: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Sami Panico, Pietro Ceccarelli, Joshua Furno, Francesco Minto, Giorgio Bronzini, Tommaso Allan, Michele Campagnaro.