Bortolami replaces Alessandro Troncon in the role because Kirwan wants the scrum-half not to be distracted by the extra duties.

Bortolami, at 22, became the youngest Italy skipper during the summer tour of New Zealand when he scored a try in a Test against the All Blacks and now keeps the role despite the claims of the experienced Troncon.

Kirwan told the www.federugby.it website: I decided to make Bortolami skipper because I wanted Alessandro Troncon to concentrate only on the game.

The squad is notable for the call-up of lock Valerio Bernabo, centre Matteo Pratichetti and Ludovico Nitoglia, a wing, for the first time.

All three hail for Rome but joined Calvisano in the summer.

The squad will eventually be trimmed to 24 for the first match with Canada at LAquila in the central Abruzzo region on November 6.

A week later Italy play the All Blacks in Rome before taking on the United States in Biella on November 27.

Forwards
Marco Bortolami (Narbonne), Martin Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Santiago Dellape (Agen), Carlo Festuccia (GRAN Parma), Andrea Lo Cicero (LAquila), Fabio Ongaro (Treviso), Aaron Persico (Agen), Salvatore Perugini (Calvisano), Enrico Pavanello (Treviso), Giorgio Intoppa (Calvisano), David Dal Maso (Treviso), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (GRAN Parma), Salvatore Costanzo (Treviso), Silvio Orlando (Treviso), Valerio Bernabo (Calvisano)

Backs: Mauro Bergamasco, Mirko Bergamasco (both Stade Francais), Gonzalo Canale (Treviso), Denis Dallan (Treviso), Paul Griffen (Calvisano), Andrea Masi (Viadana), Walter Pozzebon (Treviso), Andrea Scanavacca (Rovigo), Kaine Paul Robertson (Viadana), Alessandro Troncon (Treviso), Rima Wakarua (Brescia), Gianluca Faliva (Treviso), Matteo Pratichetti (Calvisano), Luciano Orquera (Padova), Ludovico Nitoglia (Calvisano)