But with the experienced Parisse missing, Brunel has been forced into drafting Manoa Vosawai in at No. 8.

Fiji-born Vosawai is among six Treviso forwards selected in the Italian pack, the only exceptions being Castrogiovanni and his fellow prop Andrea Lo Cicero, who plays for French club Racing Metro.

But with the 34-10 defeat to Scotland last time out still fresh in the mind, Brunel has decided to alter his half-back combination by replacing Luciano Orquera and Tobias Botes with Kristopher Burton and Edoardo Gori.

In the second row Antonio Pavanello is preferred to Quintin Geldenhuys, who drops to the replacements' bench, but Brunel believes with Castrogiovanni leading the side they can return to winning ways at the Stadio Olimpico.

“Castro was picked as captain for the summer tour and did very well,” said Brunel. “With him we won two matches out of two. If he carries on like that we could win the Championship.”

Italy 

15 Andrea Masi (Wasps)

14 Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre)

13 Tommaso Benvenuti (Treviso)

12 Gonzalo Canale (La Rochelle)

11 Luke McLean (Treviso)

10 Kris Burton (Treviso)

9 Edoardo Gori (Treviso)

1 Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro)

2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso)

3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester, capt)

4 Antonio Pavanello (Treviso)

5 Francesco Minto (Treviso)

6 Alessandro Zanni (Treviso)

7 Simone Favaro (Treviso)

8 Manoa Vosawai (Treviso)

Replacements:

Davide Giazzon (Zebre)

Alberto De Marchi (Treviso)

Lorenzo Cittadini (Treviso)

Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre)

Paul Derbyshire (Treviso)

Tobias Botes (Treviso)

Luciano Orquera (Zebre)

Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre)