Campagnaro faces Irish test

Summer signing Michele Campagnaro is set to make his second start of the 2015 Rugby World Cup as he lines up in Italy’s starting XV for their clash with Ireland at the Olympic Stadium in London today (4:45pm).

The talented centre, who joined Exeter Chiefs from Pro12 side Benetton Treviso, returns to the fold having only been on the bench for the Azzurri’s second match in Pool D against Canada, which they won 23-18.

He is back in the Italian mix as is their inspirational skipper Sergio Parisse, who has had to sit out the opening two games with a calf injury. The Stade Francais talisman packs down at No.8 in a back-row that also contains Francesco Minto and Simone Favaro.

Ireland, meanwhile, are virtually at full-strength for the encounter and include in their line-up fly-half Johnny Sexton, the older brother of current Chiefs lock, Jerry Sexton.

Ireland: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Jack McGrath

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Nathan White, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Luke Fitzgerald

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Josh Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Matias Aguero.

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Mauro Bergamasco, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti.

Referee: Jerome Garces (France)