Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has
called up Zebre captain Giovanni Licata to his squad for
Sunday's Six Nations match against France in Lille after
uncapped 20-year-old talent Francois Mey had to pull out.
Clermont's Mey plays centre but rather than calling up another
back, Quesada decided to draft in an extra flanker in Licata,
who has 13 caps.
The Italian rugby federation did not specify what sort of injury
had forced Mey to pull out.
The Azzurri are also without Sebastian Negri, Lorenzo Cannone,
Edoardo Iachizzi and Pietro Ceccarelli due to injuries, while
veteran fullback/flyhalf Tommaso Allan has decided to take a
break from the national team for family reasons.
"This was not an easy decision," Allan said via social media.
"It has been a very tough year, both physically and mentally.
"Being away from my family month after month has only made
everything even harder.
"The decision was made for my well-being and that of the team.
"Thank you as always for your continued support. Forza Italia".
Italy are bottom of the Six Nations table with one point from
two games after losing 27-24 to England in Rome and 36-0 to
Ireland in Dublin.
Italy Squad.
Props:
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 50 caps),
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 37 caps),
Matteo NOCERA (Zebre Parma, uncapped),
Luca RIZZOLI (Zebre Parma, uncapped),
Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps),
Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps).
Hookers:
Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps),
Marco MANFREDI (Zebre Parma, 3 caps),
Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 20 caps).
Locks:
Matteo CANALI (Zebre Parma, uncapped),
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 38 caps),
Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 51 caps),
Andrea ZAMBONIN (Zebre Parma, 5 caps).
Loose forwards:
Riccardo FAVRETTO (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
Alessandro IZEKOR (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 35 caps)
Giovanni LICATA (Zebre Parma, 13 caps)
Ross VINTCENT (Exeter, 1 cap)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)
Scrum-halves:
Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps),
Martin PAGE-RELO (Lyon, 5 caps),
Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester, 26 caps).
Flyhalves:
Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 33 caps),
Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps).
Centres:
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps),
Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps),
Federico MORI (Bayonne, 15 caps),
Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps).
Wingers/Fullbacks:
Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain, 17 caps),
Monty IOANE (Lyon 27 caps),
Simone GESI (Zebre Parma, 1 cap),
Louis LYNAGH (Harlequins, uncapped),
Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 7 caps).
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