New coach Gonzalo Quesada has named
brothers Paolo and Alessandro Garbisi flyhalf and scrumhalf
respectively for Italy's Six Nations opener against England at
Rome's Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, the Argentine's first match
on the Azzurri bench.
While the siblings have a total of 38 caps between them, they
have never started a test match together in the playmaking
positions before.
They did both start in Italy's 38-17 win over Uruguay at last
year's World Cup, although on that occasion Alessandro Garbisi
was deployed at inside centre.
Tommaso Allan, who has frequently played for Italy at stand-off,
will pick up his 80th international cap at fullback, having
established himself in the role with his French club Perpignan.
The team is made up of familiar faces from the stint of
Quesada's predecessor, Kieran Crowley, which ended with
humiliating defeats to New Zealand and France at the World Cup.
Open-side flanker Michele Lamaro keeps the captain's armband.
"It's been an intense week of work," said Quesada.
"There is great enthusiasm throughout the squad about the Six
Nations opener. "The staff and all the players showed great
commitment, trying to quickly dive into in new methods.
"We will face the team that finished third at the last World
Cup.
"But at home, the Stadio Olympico will make its support felt.
"We can't wait to get on the field."
England are the only Six Nations team the Azzurri have never
beaten.
Italy team:
15 Tommaso Allan (Perpignan, 79 caps)
14 Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain, 16 caps)
13 Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby, 30 caps)
12 Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
11 Monty Ioane (Lione 25 caps)
10 Paolo Garbisi (Montpellier, 31 caps)
9 Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
8 Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
7 Michele Lamaro (c) (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)
6 Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby, 52 caps)
5 Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 49 caps)
4 Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 36 caps)
3 Pietro Ceccarelli (Perpignan, 31 caps)
2 Gianmarco Lucchesi (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)
1 Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma, 36 caps).
Replacements:
16 Giacomo Nicotera (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)
17 Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby, esordiente)
18 Giosuè Zilocchi (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
19 Andrea Zambonin (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)
20 Edoardo Iachizzi (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
21 Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)
22 Stephen Varney (Gloucester, 24 caps)
23 Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Parma, 5 caps).
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