Brunel brings in South African flavour

The other new faces are props Andrea Lovotti and Matteo Zanusso, hooker Ornel Gega, flank Jacopo Sarto, flyhalf Edoardo Padovani, centre Tommaso Castello, wing Mattia Bellini and fullback David Odiete.

"The one-day get-togethers gave us the opportunity to look at a lot of players and to prepare some interesting alternatives to the great number of injured players from whom we'll have to pick a squad for this first Six Nations match," said Brunel in a statement.

Frenchman Brunel has also been able to welcome back a few established players from injury, including New Zealand-born flyhalf Kelly Haimona.

Italy's injury problems mean that Brunel has picked just 16 of his 31-man World Cup squad.

Crucially, captain Sergio Parisse, who earlier this week was named French Top 14 player of the season for 2014/15, is amongst them after an injury-ravaged World Cup in which he played only 65 minutes due to a calf problem.

Also included are veteran props Martin Castrogiovanni of Racing 92 in France and Lorenzo Cittadini, plying his trade at Wasps in England, hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini of England's Leicester, and Exeter centre Michele Campagnaro, likewise playing in the English Premiership.

Following their opening match at the Stade de France in Paris on February 6, Italy will host England in Rome on February 14.

Italy squad:

Forwards: Martin Castrogiovanni, Dario Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Andrea Lovotti, Matteo Zanusso, Ornel Gega, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Valerio Bernabo, George Fabio Biagi, Marco Fuser, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse (captain), Jacopo Sarto, Abraham Steyn, Andries van Schalkwyk, Alessandro Zanni.

Backs: Edoardo Gori, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Padovani, Mattia Bellini, Giulio Bisegni, Michele Campagnaro, Tommaso Castello, Gonzalo Garcia, Kelly Haimona, Luke McLean, David Odiete, Andrea Pratichetti, Leonardo Sarto.

Agence France-Presse