10 uncapped players to represent Italy at the Six Nations

Jan 20 • General News, International, Six Nations • 1671 Views • Comments Off on 10 uncapped players to represent Italy at the Six Nations

The Azzurri are hoping to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish and will kick off their tournament against France in Paris on February 6 before taking on England in Rome.

Up front the good form of Zebre prop Andrea Lovotti and Treviso counterpart Matteo Zanusso has been rewarded, while hooker Ornel Gega also makes the cut.

Van Schalkwyk, a standout for Zebre in recent seasons, is included for the first time along with club colleague Jacopo Sarto, the younger brother of winger Leonardo who is also in the squad.

The final uncapped forward is Treviso back rower Abraham Steyn, but there is also plenty of experience in that position in the shape of skipper Sergio Parisse and veteran Alessandro Zanni.

At fly-half youngster Carlo Canna will hope to build on a promising World Cup but Zebre teammate Edoardo Padovani will hope to push him in order to win a first cap.

Finally in the outside backs there are call-ups for three players plying their trade in the Eccellenza championship, Padova’s Mattia Bellini, Calvisano’s Tommaso Castello and Mogliano’s David Odiete.

“The camps this winter allowed us to see a number of players and evaluate some interesting alternatives to all the injuries we are currently dealing with,” said Brunel.

“We have some important players coming back, like (George) Biagi, (Giulio) Bisegni and (Kelly) Haimona, who had a big impact in the last Six Nations before getting injured.

“There are also lots of new players and three who have come from the Eccellenza championship and shown they deserve a place in the squad to prepare for the first two games of the tournament.”

Italy squad for the RBS 6 Nations:

Forwards

Martin Castrogiovanni (Racing 92)
Dario Chistolini (Zebre Rugby)
Lorenzo Cittadini (Wasps)
Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby)
Matteo Zanusso (Benetton Treviso)
Ornel Gega (Benetton Treviso)
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers)
Valerio Bernabo (Zebre Rugby)
George Fabio Biagi (Zebre Rugby)
Marco Fuser (Benetton Treviso)
Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso)
Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais) (c)
Jacopo Sarto (Zebre Rugby)
Abraham Steyn (Benetton Treviso)
Andries Van Schalkwyk (Zebre Rugby)
Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso)

Backs

Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso)
Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre Rugby)
Carlo Canna (Zebre Rugby)
Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby)
Mattia Bellini (Petrarca Padova)
Giulio Bisegni (Zebre Rugby)
Michele Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs)
Tommaso Castello (Rugby Calvisano)
Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre Rugby)
Kelly Haimona (Zebre Rugby)
Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso)
David Odiete (Marchiol Mogliano)
Andrea Pratichetti (Benetton Treviso)
Leonardo Sarto (Zebre Rugby)

Courtesy of Six Nations