Toulon prop Martin Castrogiovanni replaces Dario Chistolini in the only change for Italy as they look to follow up a 24-13 win over Samoa with a win against Argentina this weekend.
Italy’s second game of their three-test November series will now be played on Friday amid fears that predicted heavy rains in Genoa on Saturday would lead to further chaos in the flood-hit city.
The match will now kick off on Friday at the same Luigi Ferraris stadium.
“The decision was made because of the very strong possibility of heavy rain on Saturday. Security officials felt that holding the match then posed just too much of a risk,” a statement from the Italian rugby federation (FIR) said on Thursday.
Italy coach Jacques Brunel was forced to leave Castrogiovanni on the sidelines due to suspension last week as Zebre prop Chistolini claimed only his third cap for the Azzurri.
But the Frenchman has kept faith with the side that overcame a shaky first-half display in Ascoli with a stirring second-half performance inspired by New Zealand-born fly-half Kelly Haimona, which ended Italy’s nine-game winless streak and gave them their first victory in a year.
Apart from Chistolini, there is only one change to the replacements bench with Francesco Minto replacing Robert Barbieri as reserve flanker.
Teams
Italy (15-1): Andrea Masi; Luke Mclean, Michele Campagnaro, Luca Morisi, Leonardo Sarto; Kelly Haimona, Edoardo Gori; Sergio Parisse (capt), Simone Favaro, Alessandro Zanni; Joshua Furno, Quintin Geldenhuys; Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Matias Aguero
Replacements
Andrea Manici, Alberto De Marchi, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Bortolami, Francesco Minto, Guglielmo Palazzani, Luciano Orquera, Giulio Toniolatti
Argentina (15-1): Joaquin Tuculet; Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Horacio Agulla, Jeronimo De la Fuente, Manuel Montero; Juan Martin Hernandez, Tomas Cubelli; Leonardo Senatore, Javier Ortega Desio, Facundo Isa; Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti; Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Matias Cortese, Marcos Ayerza
Replacements
Santiago Iglesias Valdez, Lucas Noguera Paz, Ramiro Herrera, Lucas Ponce, Tomas Lezana, Martin Landajo, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni
