Bergamasco Could Be Set To Make History Against Canada

Mauro Bergamasco could equal Brian Lima’s record of playing in five Rugby World Cups on Saturday after being named on the bench for Italy’s Pool D match with Canada.

Bergamasco, who made two appearances in this year’s RBS 6 Nations, was not included in the 23-man squad for the 32-10 defeat to France at the weekend but the 36-year-old is on the replacements bench for the match at Leeds United FC’s Elland Road.

Head coach Jacques Brunel has made four changes to his starting XV, with Racing 92 prop and former Leicester Tiger Martin Castrogiovanni one of those to make way.

Castrogiovanni became Italy’s record appearance maker on Saturday and was part of a front row which became the most-capped in World Cup history.

But the 33-year-old and fellow prop Matias Aguero make way for Lorenzo Cittadini and Michele Rizzo against Canada.

With Andrea Masi’s tournament ending due to an Achilles injury, Gonzalo Garcia starts and he is joined at centre by Tommaso Benvenuti as Michele Campagnaro drops to the bench.

Italy team to face Canada at Elland Road on Saturday, September 26 (kick-off 2.30pm BST):
1 Michele Rizzo
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c)
3 Lorenzo Cittadini
4 Quintin Geldenhuys
5 Josh Furno
6 Alessandro Zanni
7 Francesco Minto
8 Samuela Vunisa
9 Edoardo Gori
10 Tommaso Allan
11 Giovanbattista Venditti
12 Gonzalo Garcia
13 Tommaso Benvenuti
14 Leonardo Sarto
15 Luke McLean

Replacements
16 Davide Giazzon
17 Matias Aguero
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Marco Fuser
20 Mauro Bergamasco
21 Guglielmo Palazzani
22 Carlo Canna
23 Michele Campagnaro

Source: RBS 6 Nations