UPDATE 1-FACTBOX-Rugby-World Cup-Italy v Namibia

Reuters

(Adds details) Sept 20 (Reuters) - Factbox on the Rugby World Cup Pool B fixture between Italy and Namibia: WHERE Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka WHEN Sunday, September 22 at 2.15pm local time (0515 GMT) Italy have lost 10 of their previous 11 tests but are heavy favourites to get their Rugby World Cup campaign off to a positive start when they take on African minnows Namibia at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka on Sunday. The Italians have been to every previous World Cup but never advanced from the pool stages, and with defending champions New Zealand and South Africa to come in Pool B, this is a must-win game. Italy will be led by 36-year-old number eight Sergio Parisse, who earns a 141st cap and becomes only the third player to appear at five World Cup tournaments after Samoan Brian Lima (1991-2007) and compatriot Mauro Bergamasco (1999-2015). Namibia are seeking a first ever World Cup win at the 20th attempt. They have steadily improved down the years with the 2015 tournament their best performance yet in terms of most points scored and least conceded. That was also achieved under Welsh coach Phil Davies and he believes they are fitter and better prepared for this tournament, and ready to surprise Italy. Namibia will be without captain and centre Johan Deysel, who has a shoulder problem, while they will also hand a late fitness test to wing Lesley Klim. ITALY World ranking: 14 Coach: Conor O'Shea (Ireland) Captain: Sergio Parisse Team: 15-Jayden Hayward, 14-Mattia Bellini, 13-Tommaso Benvenuti, 12-Luca Morisi, 11-Edoardo Padovani, 10-Tommaso Allan, 9-Tito Tebaldi, 8-Sergio Parisse, 7-Maxime Mbanda, 6-Braam Steyn, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Alessandro Zanni, 3-Tiziano Pasquali, 2-Luca Bigi, 1-Nicola Quaglio Replacements: 16-Oliviero Fabiani, 17-Simone Ferrari, 18-Marco Riccioni, 19-Dean Budd, 20-Jake Polledri, 21-Guglielmo Palazzani, 22-Carlo Canna, 23-Matteo Minozzi. NAMIBIA World ranking: 23 Coach: Phil Davies (Wales) Captain: Tjiuee Uanivi Team: 15-Johan Tromp, 14-Chad Plato, 13-Justin Newman, 12-Darryl De La Harpe, 11-JC Greyling, 10-Cliven Loubser, 9-Damian Stevens, 8-Janco Venter, 7-Wian Conradie, 6-Rohan Kitshoff, 5-Tjiuee Uanivi, 4-PJ Van Lill, 3-Johannes Coetzee, 2-Torsten George Van Jaarsveld, 1-Andre Rademeyer Replacements: 16-Louis van der Westhuizen, 17-AJ De Klerk, 18-Nelius Theron, 19-Johan Retief, 20-Max Katjijeko, 21-Eugene Jantjies, 22-Helarius Axasman Kisting, 23-Lesley Klim. OFFICIALS Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) Assistants: Nigel Owens (Wales), Federico Anselmi (Argentina) TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa) POOL B FIXTURES (date/opponent/venue) ITALY Sept 26 v Canada Fukuoka Oct 4 v South Africa Fukuroi Oct 12 v New Zealand Toyota NAMIBIA Sept 28 v South Africa Toyota Oct 6 v New Zealand Tokyo Oct 13 v Canada Kamaishi (Compiled by Nick Said and Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, Editing by William Maclean)