Costanzo has definitely been ruled out of Italys opening game against Ireland at the Stadio Flaminio on Sunday after hurting himself during training on Tuesday.

But Azzurri team manager Marco Bollesan is hoping the Benetton Treviso prop makes a speedy recovery.

Bollesan said: Certainly Im always sorry to see a player get injured especially ahead of the RBS 6 Nations.

I hope he will miss just 20-25 days, which is what the medical report said at first, but we have to wait and see.

Im sure he will be back in form and we believe he will be back better than ever.

Like the entire Italian federation, [coach] John Kirwan has a lot of faith in Costanzo.

Kirwan is hoping New Zealand-born fly-half Paul Griffens thigh injury clears up ahead of Sundays game.

And he has also called up Mario Savi and Pietro Travagli, who will join the national team in training on Wednesday.

Bollesan added: For the Ireland game, we will miss a few players who are not well or injured but we are trying to send the best team on the pitch.