Italy will head into Saturday's winner-takes-all Pool C clash with Scotland without injured skipper Marco Bortolami.
The lock has not trained this week because of hamstring and neck problems, and
coach Pierre Berbizier was forced to replace him with the fit-again Santiago
Dellape in one of seven changes in personnel from the team that struggled
to beat Portugal 31-5 last week.
There are three other changes in the forwards, with prop Salvatore Perugini, hooker Carlo Festuccia and flanker Josh Sole earning recalls.
Andrea Lo Cicero, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Manoa Vosawai are the players to miss out.
Sergio Parisse goes back to his usual position of No 8, with Sole starting on the openside flank.
In the backs, Ramiro Pez replaces Roland de Marigny at first five, while winger Kaine Robertson and centre Mirco Bergamasco both return to the starting XV.
Bergamasco partners Gonzalo Canale in the midfield, with Andrea Masi moving to the wing as a replacement for Matteo Pratichetti.
Veteran halfback Alessandro Troncon has been named as captain in the absence of Bortolami.
Whoever wins this clash at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday will probably meet Argentina in Paris in the quarter-finals.
