Nick Mallett rings the changes at captain as he brings Sergio Parisse in as the new skipper for the six nations. Parisse, 24, takes over from Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami, 27, who skippered Italy 37 times between 2002 and 2007.
Mallett, who replaced Pierre Berbizier as coach in November, resisted making major changes despite Italy’s disappointing World Cup campaign. Experienced winger Denis Dallan and centre Enrico Patrizio are recalled, but Saracens hooker Fabio Ongaro is a surprise omission. Other players missing are inspirational scrum-half Alessandro Troncon, who retired after the World Cup, and Roland de Marigny, Paul Griffen and Marko Stanojevic. Meanwhile, lock Tommasso Reato gets his first call-up to the squad.
Squad:
Backs: Mirco Bergamasco, David Bortolussi, Gonzalo Canale, Pablo Canavosio, Denis Dallan, Ezio Galon, Andrea Marcato, Andrea Masi, Ludovico Nitoglia, Enrico Patrizio, Ramiro Pez, Simon Picone, Matteo Pratichetti, Kaine Robertson, Alberto Sgarbi, Pietro Travagli
Forwards: Robert Barbieri, Mauro Bergamasco, Marco Bortolami, Martin Castrogiovanni, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Santiago Dellape, Carlo Festuccia, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero, Carlos Nieto, Sergio Parisse, Antonio Pavanello, Salvatore Perugini, Tommaso Reato, Josh Sole, Alessandro Zanni
Big Ed says
Watch out for Italy I say… they did well enough at the World Cup to have a few good chances here in the 6 Nations. At least we don’t have to host Argentina (yet!) in this tournament! Big Ed