No sign of Castro for Italy
Prop Martin Castrogiovanni, ruled out of Italy's win over Scotland at the weekend because of a dog bite, has been dropped for the Six Nations matches against France and Wales.
Castrogiovanni, who needed 14 stitches after being bitten on the nose by a friend's dog, was not in the 30-man squad named by coach Jacques Brunel on Tuesday and did not figure among the players who were listed as excluded through injury.
Versatile back Andrea Masi, who missed the Scotland game, and lock Quintin Geldenhuys, still to make his first appearance in the championship because of a knee injury, were recalled.
Italy host France on March 15 and Wales on March 21
Italian Squad:
Forwards: Matias Aguero, Dario Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Alberto De Marchi, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Manici, George Biagi, Joshua Furno, Marco Fuser, Quintin Geldenhuys, Marco Barbini, Mauro Bergamasco, Simone Favaro, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Samuela Vunisa.
Backs: Edoardo Gori, Guglielmo Palazzani, Marcello Violi, Tommaso Allan, Kelly Haimona, Enrico Bacchin, Giulio Bisegni, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luca Morisi, Simone Ragusi, Leonardo Sarto, Giovambattista Venditti, Michele Visentin.
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