Milestones for trio as Italy reveal squad for Scotland
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has named his team to face Scotland in their Six Nations opener at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
It will be a special occasion for the team as Italy captain Michele Lamaro, centre Juan Ignacio Brex and flyhalf Paolo Garbisi will all earn their 50th caps in Rome.
Lamaro will lead what is a settled Italian team, named by Quesada, who will be looking to repeat the victory they earned over Scotland at home two years ago.
In the absence of Toulouse fullback Ange Capuozzo, who has broken his finger, Benetton’s Leonardo Marin will wear the No.15 shirt with Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane on either wing.
Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello will reunite again to form their familiar centre partnership, playing outside Garbisi. With Martin Page-Relo and Stephen Varney injured, Zebre’s Alessandro Fusco will be Garbisi’s half-back partner.
Only one player in the pack, lock Andrea Zambonin, has fewer than 30 caps, with Lamaro joining Danilo Fischetti, Simone Ferrari and Niccolo Cannone as a half-centurion at the weekend.
Italy: 15 Leonardo Marin, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Michele Lamaro, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Lorenzo Pani.
Date: Saturday, February 7
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 15.10 (14.10 GMT; 14.10 UK Time)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand) & Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Source: Rugbypass
