Azzurri select a Kiwi and Fijian
New Zealand-born Kelly Haimona and Fijian Samuela Vunisa are among three uncapped players in a 30-man Italy squad.
Coach Jacques Brunel on Wednesday named the squad for the upcoming Test matches against Samoa, Argentina and South Africa.
Centre Haimona (Zebre) and No.8 Vunisa, who also plays for the Italian side, join wing Simone Ragusi (Benetton Treviso) in making the Azzurri squad for the first time.
Ahead of next year's World Cup in England, Italy are still in construction mode especially after a disappointing 2014 Six Nations campaign that left them in last place – following crushing defeats to Ireland (7-47) and England (11-52).
Italy host Samoa in Ascoli on November 8 and Argentina in Genoa a week later, with a much-anticipated Test against South Africa on November 22.
Haimona was born in Rotorua and had spells with Bay of Plenty and Whakarewarewa, while Vunisa turned out for New Zealand sides Taranaki and Wanganui College and represented Fiji at Under-19, Under-20 and Under-23 levels.
Arguably the most significant news for Italy, however, is the return of a handful of players recently absent from the squad through injury – Francesco Minto, Luca Morisi and flank Simone Favaro, scrumhalf Edoardo Gori and centre Luca Morisi.
Brunel will also welcome back veterans Martin Castrogiovanni and Sergio Parisse after they were excused from duty ahead of a disastrous mid-year tour of the Pacific, during which Italy lost to Fiji, Samoa and Japan.
Both prop Castrogiovanni and No.8 Parisse share the Italian record of 105 caps.
Zebre wing Giulio Toniolatti, meanwhile, is recalled following a two-year absence following an impressive season in the Pro12 championship.
The November Tests, however, will give Brunel plenty of food for thought.
The Azzurri have beaten Samoa only once in six encounters, won five of their 19 games against Argentina and been defeated in all of their 11 previous meetings with South Africa.
Under Brunel, who took the Azzurri reigns in November 2011, Italy have won seven and lost 10 of their 17 games.
Italy:
Backs: Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Angelo Esposito, Simone Ragusi, Leonardo Sarto, Giulio Toniolatti, Michele Campagnaro, Gonzalo Garcia, Kelly Haimona, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Allan, Luciano Orquera, Edoardo Gori, Guglielmo Palazzani.
Forwards: Robert Barbieri, Simone Favaro, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Samuela Vunisa, Alessandro Zanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Manici, Fabio Biagi, Marco Bortolami, Joshua Furno, Quintin Geldenhuys, Matias Aguero, Dario Chistolini, Martin Castrogiovanni, Alberto De Marchi.
Source: AFP
