LONDON – Jacques Brunel has named a 30-man side to prepare for the first challenge of the season with the 6 Nations kicking off in two weeks.
With the training squad assembling in Rome on 25 January, Brunel has named Giovanbattista Venditti as well as Mauro Bergamasco who missed the Autumn Test series.
Raising a few eyebrows is the inclusion of debutants, Giulio Bisegni, Michele Visentin both from Pro12 team Zebre Rugby as well as Benetton Treviso back Simone Ragusi and half-back Marcello Violi. Their selection is marginally surprising considering Brunel named Ragusi and Violi to play in the November Tests however they didn’t earn a cap after staying on the bench – many thought it would have been better to blood them in the Autumn Tests other than the cauldron that is 6 Nations rugby.
The Azzurri will open their 6 Nations campaign Ireland on 7 February and they’ll be encouraged by the retirement of Brian O’Driscoll as well as the opportunity to throw the ball wide.
6 NATIONS ITALIAN SQUAD
Matias AGUERO (Zebre Rugby, 29 caps), Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Toulon RC, 107 caps), Dario CHISTOLINI (Zebre Rugby, 5 caps)
Alberto DE MARCHI (Sale Sharks, 23 caps), Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps), Andrea MANICI (Zebre Rugby, 6 caps),
George Fabio BIAGI (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps), Marco BORTOLAMI (Zebre Rugby, 110 caps), Joshua FURNO (Newcastle Falcons, 23 caps)
Quintin GELDENHUYS (Zebre Rugby, 52 caps), Robert Julian BARBIERI (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps), Mauro BERGAMASCO (Zebre Rugby, 100 caps), Simone FAVARO (Benetton Treviso, 23 caps), Francesco MINTO (Benetton Treviso, 11 caps), Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 108 caps) – captain, Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Treviso, 86 caps), Edoardo GORI (Benetton Treviso, 37 caps), Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby, 6 caps), Marcello VIOLI (Cammi Calvisano, uncapped), Tommaso ALLAN (USAP Perpignan, 10 caps), Kelly HAIMONA (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps), Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre Rugby, uncapped), Michele CAMPAGNARO (Benetton Treviso, 12 caps), Andrea MASI (London Wasps, 87 caps), Luke MCLEAN (Sale Sharks, 63 caps), Luca MORISI (Benetton Treviso, 9 caps), Simone RAGUSI (Benetton Treviso, uncapped), Leonardo SARTO (Zebre, Rugby, 10 caps), Giovambattista VENDITTI (Zebre Rugby, 22 caps), Michele VISENTIN (Zebre Rugby, uncapped), Ivan Francescato (National Academy Member)