Franco Smith reveals Italy team for Scotland clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy head coach Franco Smith has revealed his team to face Scotland in their Nations Cup opener in Florence on Saturday.
Jacopo Trulla will make his international debut for Italy. He will wear the No.14 jersey and he will be joined in the back three by Matteo Minozzi and Mattia Bellini.
Marco Zanon and Carlo Canna are in the midfield with Paolo Garbisi at flyhalf and Marcello Violi at scrumhalf.
In the pack, Jake Polledri, Braam Steyn and Sebastian Negri form a blockbuster back row with Niccolò Cannone and Marco Lazzaroni in the second row.
The front row consists of Giosuè Zilocchi, Luca Bigi (captain) and Danilo Fischetti.
Italy: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Carlo Canna, 11 Mattia Bellini, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Jake Polledri, 7 Braam Steyn, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Niccolò Cannone, 4 Marco Lazzaroni, 3 Giosuè Zilocchi, 2 Luca Bigi (captain), 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Simone Ferrari, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Johan Meyer, 20 Maxime Mbanda, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Federico Mori.
Date: Saturday, November 14
Venue: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Kick-off: 13.45 (12.45 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson, Christophe Ridley
TMO: Wayne Barnes
