Italy: Kieran Crowley names two debutants in starting line-up to face France

David Skippers

Italy head coach Kieran Crowley has named his matchday squad for their Six Nations opener against France at the Stade de France in Paris on Sunday.

The starting line-up has a settled look to it, and features most of the players which did duty during last year’s Autumn Nations Series, but Crowley has also included two debutants in Tommaso Menoncello (right wing) and New Zealand-born Toa Halafihi (number eight) in the run-on side, while two more newbies, Manuel Zuliani (back-row) and Leonardo Marin (utility back), have been named amongst the replacements.

In the backline, Edoardo Padovani lines up at full-back and he is joined in the back three by wings Monty Ioane and the rookie Menoncello, who will make his Test debut after having played in the U20 Six Nations.

Juan Ignacio Brex Brex and Marco Zanon are back in tandem as the centre combination, after last featuring together against the All Blacks in the autumn, while Paolo Garbisi and Stephen Varney are the starting half-backs.

Halahifi is joined in the back-row by flankers Michele Lamaro, who captains the Azzurri for the fourth time, and Sebastian Negri while Federico Ruzza and Niccolo Cannone pack down in the engine room.

Tiziano Pasquali returns

In the front-row, there’s a recall for tighthead prop Tiziano Pasquali, who last represented his country during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. He is joined up front by loosehead Danilo Fischetti and Gianmarco Lucchesi starts at hooker.

Rookies Zuliani and Marin are joined on the bench by Epalahame Faiva, Ivan Nemer, Giosue Zilocchi, Marco Fuser, Giovanni Pettinelli and Callum Braley.

Neculai, Sisi, Bruno, Lucchin and Da Re have returned to their home club, while the rest of the group will move to Paris.

“The work done in these weeks of preparation, towards the debut at the Six Nations, has been intense and of quality,” said Crowley.

“There is a lot of energy in the group and awareness of taking the field in one of the most important tournaments in the world of rugby and sport. Focus on our performance: it will be important to stay clear in the key moments of the match.”

Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Epalahame Faiva, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Giovanni Pettinelli, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Callum Braley, 23 Leonardo Marin

Date: Sunday, February 6
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Damon Murphy (RA)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

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