The New Zealander has omitted Gonzalo Canale and Andrea Masi who have been given extra time to recover from injuries ahead of the Azzurris RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland on February 6.

Santiago Dellape is another absentee because of his involvement with Agen in the French domestic championship.

Included, though, is No 8 Sergio Parisse who is back in the Italian ranks for the first time since being injured against Scotland in last years tournament.

In the second row, captain Marco Bortolami will partner starlet Carlo Antonio Fava.

Team:
Roland De Marigny (Parma); Paul Kaine Robertson (Viadana), Walter Pozzebon (Treviso), Matteo Barbini (Padova), Ludovico Nitoglia (Calvisano); Luciano Orquera (Padova), Paul Griffen (Calvisano); Andrea Lo Cicero (LAquila), Fabio Ongaro (Treviso), Martin Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (Parma), Marco Bortolami (Narbonne, capt), Aaron Persico (Agen), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Sergio Parisse (Treviso)

Replacements:
Salvatore Costanzo (Treviso), Giorgio Intoppa (Calvisano), Salvatore Perugini (Calvisano), Cristian Bezzi (Viadana), Silvio Orlando (Treviso), David Dal Maso (Treviso), Alessandro Troncon (Treviso), Andrea Scanavacca (Rovigo), Roberto Pedrazzi (Viadana).
end