Six Nations: Kieran Crowley has named the Italy team to host France

Italy boss Kieran Crowley has named his team for this Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations opener at home to France, an XV that shows two changes from the team beaten 21-62 in their last match in November versus South Africa.

With winger Monty Ioane unavailable due to Super Rugby Pacific commitments following his move home to Australia, Italy have given the No11 jersey to Tommaso Menoncello, the scorer of a fabulous breakaway try in a recent Challenge Cup game for Benetton versus Stade Francais. The other starting lineup change sees Simone Ferrari take over at tighthead for the benched Pietro Ceccareilli.

They were some hopes that out-half Paolo Garbisi might pitch up fit this week but the injury he sustained when playing for Montpellier after Christmas still hasn’t yet fully come right and it means that Harlequins’ Tommaso Allen has retained the No10 jersey.

“We have worked well in these two weeks,” said Italy boss Crowley, whose team's last match in the Six Nations was the March 2022 win away to Wales. “We will face the team that won the last Six Nations [France]. We are trying to build the work around who we are and how we play by focusing on our performance with the aim of showing the best version of ourselves.

Italy (vs France, Sunday)

15. Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 7 caps)

14. Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 7 caps)

13. Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)

12. Luca MORISI (London Irish, 39 caps)

11. Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

10. Tommaso ALLAN (Harlequins, 66 caps)

9. Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 15 caps)

8. Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)

7. Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 21 caps) – capitano

6. Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)

5. Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 36 caps)

4. Niccolo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)

3. Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)

2. Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)

1. Danilo FISCHETTI (London Irish, 25 caps)

Replacements:

16. Luca BIGI (Zebre Parma 42 caps)

17. Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)

18. Pietro CECCARELLI (Brive, 24 caps)

19. Edoardo IACHIZZI (Vannes, esordiente)

20. Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)

21. Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

22. Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 5 caps)

23. Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)