Treviso prop Salvatore Costanzo and 24-year-old, New Zealand-born Arix Viadana winger Kayne Robertson will make their debuts.

Robertson told the Italian Rugby Union website, www.federugby.it, that he was surprised by the call-up.

"When John Kirwan called to tell me if I wanted go on tour with Italy I had already bought my air ticket to New Zealand for my holidays, he said.

But honestly it was easy to change my holiday plans, and I'm very happy for this call-up.

Robertson has lived in Italy for the past six years, and admits to feeling more Italian now than Kiwi.

I was born in Auckland but I have been in Italy for more than a quarter of my life, he said.

I speak mostly in Italian and my fiancee, Isabella, is from Viadana."

Robertson said Viadana manager Franco Tonni came to New Zealand six years ago to find two players.

He spoke with Graham Henry, now the head coach of the All Blacks, and instead of two players he took four back in Italy, including Robertson, Andrew Henry, Mathew Phillips and Sonny Parker.

Robertson said he only intended to stay at Viadana for three months because he was on the verge of being selected in the under-19 All Blacks squad.

Instead, I stayed and have no regrets, he said.

Viadana is a tranquil little town, very different from the chaotic Auckland where I grew up, so I feel it is the right decision.