The Italian national team’s skipper, Michele Lamaro, along with midfielder Juan Ignacio Brex and playmaker Paolo Garbisi, are set to achieve their milestone 50th appearances when they face Scotland this Saturday in the inaugural round of the Guinness Six Nations competition at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
Under Lamaro’s captaincy, Gonzalo Quesada has selected a consistent Italian squad, with the coach aiming to replicate their home triumph against Scotland from two seasons prior.
Due to the unavailability of Toulouse’s full-back Ange Capuozzo, sidelined with a fractured finger, Leonardo Marin from Benetton will occupy the full-back position (No.15 jersey), flanked by wingers Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane.
Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello are poised to renew their well-established midfield pairing, operating alongside Garbisi. Given the injuries to Martin Page-Relo and Stephen Varney, Alessandro Fusco of Zebre will step in as Garbisi’s partner in the half-back positions.
Among the forwards, merely one individual, second-row Andrea Zambonin, possesses under 30 caps; meanwhile, Lamaro, Danilo Fischetti, Simone Ferrari, and Niccolo Cannone will all reach their half-century of international appearances this weekend.
Italy
Scotland
Italy’s Starting Lineup
15. Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)
14. Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps)
13. Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon, 49 caps)
12. Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby, 34 caps)
11. Monty Ioane (Lyon, 42 caps)
10. Paolo Garbisi (Toulon, 49 caps)
9. Alessandro Fusco (Zebre Parma, 20 caps)
1. Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints, 58 caps)
2. Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français, 36 caps)
3. Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby, 69 caps)
4. Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 58 caps)
5. Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)
6. Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby, 49 caps) (c)
7. Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 38 caps)
8. Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)
Substitutes Bench
16. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma, 6 caps)
17. Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)
18. Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Parma, 4 caps)
19. Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 67 caps)
20. Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
21. Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)
22. Giacomo Da Re (Zebre Parma, 6 caps)
23. Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Parma, 8 caps)
