Italy could be without Ange Capuozzo for the remainder of the Six Nations.
The livewire fullback suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday’s 33-8 defeat to France in Lille, and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Making his first appearance of the year after recovering from a finger injury, Capuozzo endured a bruising 72-minute shift. He was peppered with high balls from the outset and absorbed several heavy tackles, yet still crossed for Italy’s only try and finished as his side’s leading ball-carrier.
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His afternoon, however, ended in concern.
Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada admitted post-match that the Toulouse star could face a spell on the sidelines, with early indications pointing towards an AC joint injury – an issue that can require anything from three weeks to three months of recovery.
“He hurt his shoulder, but the early prognosis is that it’s more likely an acromioclavicular injury than a dislocation, but I’m not a doctor; I stopped in my fourth year,” Quesada said.
“I think we’ll see once he’s had some scans. Maybe it’s more the acromion [shoulder blade] than a dislocation, which can change a lot of things, especially for [Toulouse coach] Ugo [Mola], because otherwise he’s going to get angry.”
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Italy were forced into a late reshuffle in the closing stages in Lille. Capuozzo departed as the Azzurri finished the final eight minutes with a rejigged back three, Monty Ioane replaced by Paolo Odogwu and Louis Lynagh in the sin-bin for a second time in the tournament following a deliberate knock-on.
If scans confirm the worst, Capuozzo’s championship could be over almost as soon as it began.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
