Tommaso Allan will start at No.10 for a buoyant Italy team against France in their Six Nations opener, with the Azzurri keen to push on after their historic victory over the Wallabies.
Italy claimed a first Six Nations win in seven years when they defeated Wales 22-21 in Cardiff in their final fixture last season, ending a 36-game losing streak in the competition, and then broke more new ground with the 28-27 win over Australia in November.
With their New Zealand coach Kieran Crowley looking for them to build on this in the daunting Rome fixture against champions France, Harlequins pivot Allan will be partnered by young Welsh-born half-back Stephen Varney, with Luca Morisi and Juan Ignacio Brex making up the midfield.
Livewire fullback Ange Capuozzo is part of a back three that also includes wings Pierre Bruno and Tommaso Menoncello.
Menoncello is one of nine players from the Benetton club in the starting XV, including seven forwards.
The odd one out is London Irish prop Danilo Fischetti, who will pack down with Simone Ferrari and hooker Giacomo Nicotera. The second row comprises Niccolo Cannone and Federico Ruzza.
Lorenzo Cannone is at No.8 and will be behind flankers Sebastian Negri and captain Michele Lamaro.
“We have worked well in these two weeks in camp,” Crowley said on Friday.
“We are trying to build on the work we have done to create our own identity and the way we play by focusing on our performance with the goal of showing the best version of ourselves.”
Italy team: 15-Ange Capuozzo, 14-Pierre Bruno, 13-Juan Ignacio Brex, 12-Luca Morisi, 11-Tommaso Menoncello, 10-Tommaso Allan, 9-Stephen Varney, 8-Lorenzo Cannone, 7-Michele Lamaro (captain), 6-Sebastian Negri, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Niccolo Cannone, 3-Simone Ferrari, 2-Giacomo Nicotera, 1-Danilo Fischetti. Res: 16-Luca Bigi,
17-Federico Zani. 18-Pietro Ceccarelli, 19-Edoardo Iachizzi, 20-Giovanni Pettinelli, 21-Manuel Zuliani, 22-Alessandro Fusco, 23-Edoardo Padovani.
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