Dog bite keeps Castrogiovanni out

The tighthead prop was bitten by a friend's dog, requiring 14 stitches to his nose and has been left out of the provisional squad, with Wasps' Lorenzo Cittadini called up as cover.

 

If unable to participate, the 33-year-old will join Andrea Masi and Marco Bortolami, who have been replaced in the Italian squad by uncapped centre Enrico Bacchin and lock Antonio Pavanello respectively, on the sidelines.

 

The Italian Rugby Federation has referred the injury to Castrogiovanni's nose as a 'minor household incident', meaning he will miss the trip to Murrayfield this weekend.

 

Masi will be unavailable for the Scottish game due to a severe cut sustained on Friday while playing for Wasps at Newcastle Falcons.

 

Meanwhile, Bortolami is suffering from an abductor problem, and Treviso's Pavanello, who has 23 Italian caps, will be in the squad for Saturday.