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Six Nations: Kieran Crowley has named the Italy team to host France
By Liam Heagney
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)
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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