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Wales Online

Sport

John Jones

What time is Italy v Samoa kick-off today and what TV channel is it on?

Samoa Italy Kieran Crowley Lorenzo Cannone Michele Lamaro Niccolo Cannone Nigel Owens Pierre Bruno Stephen Varney Amazon Prime Video

Italy face a tricky start to their autumn Test campaign as they take on Samoa at home ahead of playing Australia and South Africa later in November.

Kieran Crowley's side have enjoyed a successful year, famously beating Wales on the final weekend of this year's Six Nations before beating Portugal and Romania during their summer campaign.

However, the young Italian team, captained by 24-year-old Michele Lamaro, face an experienced Samoan team, which has been bolstered by the inclusion of a former All Black and an ex-Wallabies player who switched allegiances earlier this year.

Here's what you need to know about the match:

What time is Italy v Samoa kick-off?

Italy v Samoa kicks off at 1pm UK time/2pm local time on Saturday, November 5, at Stadio Plebiscito in Padua.

What TV channel is Italy v Samoa on? What about live streaming?

You will need to have an Amazon Prime Video subscription for this game, or a free trial. This will be the only live-viewing option.

Prime Video offer a 30-day free trial, which renews at £8.99 per month after the trial period ends, or you can cancel it before that. The service also provides a range of films, TV series, music and free one-day delivery. You can sign up here. Live streaming will be available online or via Amazon Prime Video's app.

What's the team news?

Kieran Crowley has made nine changes to the Italy side which lost to Georgia in July, with Gloucester scrum-half Stephen Varney returning to the team for the first time since picking up an injury during this year's Six Nations.

Lorenzo Cannone is handed his international debut, with the Benetton star and younger brother of Niccolo starting at No. 8, while Tommaso Allen is moved to full-back where he lines up alongside Pierre Bruno and Montanna Ioane in the back three. There could also be a Test debut for Zebre's Enrico Lucchin, who is named among the replacements.

Former All Black Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is the headline inclusion in the Samoa squad as he looks to make his debut off the bench. The tighthead prop won a solitary test cap for New Zealand against Japan in 2013, but switched allegiances to Samoa, where his mother was born, earlier this year after changes were made to the World Rugby eligibility rules.

There could also be a debut for former Wallabies centre Duncan Paia’aua, who is named among the replacements, while other newcomers to the squad include locks Brian Alainu’uese and Taleni Seu, as well as flanker Tala Gray, who is set to play his first international at the age of 32.

Italy: 15. Tommaso Allan; 14. Pierre Bruno, 13. Juan Ignacio Brex, 12. Luca Morisi, 11. Montanna Ioane; 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Stephen Varney; 1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Giacomo Nicotera, 3. Simone Ferrari, 4. David Sisi, 5. Federico Ruzza, 6. Manuel Zuliani, 7. Michele Lamaro, 8. Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: 16. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17. Ivan Nemer, 18. Pietro Ceccarelli, 19. Niccolo Cannone, 20. Toa Halafihi, 21. Manfredi Albanese, 22. Enrico Lucchin, 23. Tommaso Menoncello.

Samoa: 15. Danny Toala; 14. Alapati Leiua, 13. Ulupano Junior Seuteni, 12. Alai D’Angelo Leuila, 11. Nigel Ah Wong, 10. Rodney Iona, 9. Ereatara Enari; 1. Jordan Lay, 2. Seilala Lam, 3. Michael Ala’alatoa (captain), 4. Brian Alainu’uese, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Theo McFarland, 7. Sa Jordan Taufua, 8. Fritz Lee.

Replacements: 16. Ma’atulimanu Leiataua, 17. Nephi Leatigaga, 18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19. Taleni Seu, 20. Talalelei Gray, 21. Jonathan Taumateine, 22. Duncan Paia’aua, 23. Tomasi Aloisio.