Italy coach Jacques Brunel on
Thursday named four uncapped players in his preliminary 30-man
squad for the Six Nations.
The core of the squad is 24 players Brunel used in the
November tests, when the Azzurri ended a long winless run by
beating Samoa 24-13 and served up credible performances in
defeats to Argentina and South Africa.
Two other familiar faces, flanker Mauro Bergamasco and
winger Giovambattista Venditti, return after injuries.
But Frenchman Brunel sprang a surprise by giving three
players their first call-up as he seeks to try out possible
contenders for 2015 World Cup places.
They are centre Giulio Bisegni and wing Michele Visentin,
both players for Italian Celtic League franchise Zebre, and
Cammi Calvisano scrumhalf Marcello Violi, the only
representative from the Italian top flight - the Campionato
d'Eccellenza.
They squad also features Benetton utily back Simone
Ragusi, who was called up for the autumn tests but failed to
make his debut.
"The tournament is the last real opportunity to test some
young people who are showing that they have interesting
qualities," Brunel said.
"It's an opportunity for them to show their value in the
year of the World Cup".
The squad, led by inspiration captain and number eight
Sergio Parisse, will start their Six Nations campaign against
Ireland in Rome on February 7.
Squad: Props: Matias AGUERO (Zebre), Martin CASTROGIOVANNI
(Toulon RC); Dario CHISTOLINI (Zebre). Hookers: Leonardo
GHIRALDINI (Leicester Tigers), Andrea MANICI (Zebre). Locks:
George Fabio BIAGI (Zebre), Marco BORTOLAMI (Zebre), Joshua
FURNO (Newcastle Falcons), Quintin GELDENHUYS (Zebre). Loose
forwards: Robert Julian BARBIERI (Leicester Tigers), Mauro
BERGAMASCO (Zebre), Simone FAVARO (Benetton), Francesco MINTO
(Benetton), Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais), Alessandro ZANNI
(Benetton). Scrumhalfs: Edoardo GORI (Benetton), Guglielmo
PALAZZANI (Zebre), Marcello VIOLI (Cammi Calvisano). Flyhalfs:
Tommaso ALLAN (USAP Perpignan), Kelly HAIMONA (Zebre).
Centres/wings/fullbacks: Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre), Michele
CAMPAGNARO (Benetton), Andrea MASI (London Wasps), Luke MCLEAN
(Sale Sharks), Luca MORISI (Benetton), Simone RAGUSI (Benetton),
Leonardo SARTO (Zebre), Giovambattista VENDITTI (Zebre), Michele
VISENTIN (Zebre).
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