Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has named
star player Ange Capuozzo on the wing rather than at fullback
for his team's Six Nations opener in Scotland on Saturday.
Tommaso Allan, who took a break from the national team last year
for personal reasons and frequently plays at flyhalf, starts
with the number 15 shirt, while Monty Ioane takes the slot on
the other wing.
The centres are Tommaso Menoncello, the most valuable player of
the Six Nations in 2024 when the Azzurri registered their best
ever showing with wins over Scotland and Wales and a draw in
France, and Juan Ignacio Brex.
Paolo Garbisi and Lyon's Martin Page-Relo form the half-back
pairing.
As usual Treviso flanker Michele Lamaro will wear the captain's
armband.
Italy: 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex,
12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9
Martin Page-Relo, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain),
6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Dino Lamb, 3 Simone
Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Marco
Riccioni, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Ross
Vintcent, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Simone Gesi.
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