Brunel blends youth and experience
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Italian coach Jacques Brunel has named his 30-man Six Nations squad with an experienced pack blending with a young backline.
Italy begin their campaign against last year's champions, Ireland, at the Stadio Olympico before a trip to Twickenham to face England in Round Two.
Some of the more experienced campaigners for Brunel include captain Sergio Parisse, flank Mauro Bergamasco as well as Martin Castriogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Marco Bortolami in the pack.
Treviso's Simone Ragusi, Calvisano's Marcello Violi, Zebre's Michele Visentin and Giulio Bisegni have all been given the nod while Jacques Brunel has recalled Mauro Bergamasco and Giovanbattista Venditti.
"The tournament is the last real opportunity to test some young players who are proving to have interesting qualities in the Pro12 or, as in the case of Violi, at the top of the Italian Top Division," said the coach.
"For them it is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate their value in the World Cup year.
"Bergamasco and Venditti, who recently returned from injury, are two players backed by solid international experience that will be of great use to us in the difficult weeks ahead.
"We have not played together since November against Samoa, Argentina and South Africa and it's time to test things at the highest level."
Italian squad: Matias Aguero, Martin Castrogiovanni, Dario Chistolini, Alessandro De Marchi, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Manici, George Biagi, Marco Bortolami, Joshua Furno, Quintin Geldenhuys, Robert Barbieri, Mauro Bergamasco, Simone Favaro, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Alessandro Zanni, Edoardo Gori, Guglielmo Palazzani, Marcello Violi, Tommaso Allan, Kelly Haimona, Giulioi Bisegni, Michele Campagnaro, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luca Morisi, Simone Ragusi, Leonardo Sarto, Giovanbattista Venditti, Michele Visentin.
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