Rising stars Stephen Varney and Paolo Garbisi will lead Italy’s attack against France after Franco Smith named his side for the 2021 Guinness Six Nations curtain-raiser.
Garbisi, 20, has held the No.10 shirt since the resumption of international rugby in October and will be joined in the half-back pairing by 19-year-old Gloucester Rugby scrum-half Varney.
It will be the second consecutive game the duo has started together, having also played alongside each other in Italy’s final Autumn Nations Cup game against Wales in December.
The Azzurri backline also includes debutant Juan Ignacio Brex, who will become the 11th rookie since Smith took over as head coach when he starts at inside centre alongside Marco Zanon.
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Meanwhile, full-back Jacopo Trulla, right wing Luca Sperandio and left wing Monty Ioane form the back three for the clash against last year’s Championship runners-up at the Stadio Olimpico.
In the pack, Michele Lamaro will make his first start for the Azzurri at No.8 after two previous substitute appearances, with Johan Meyer and Sebastian Negri joining him in the back row.
Marco Lazzaroni and David Sisi provide experience in the lock positions while the front row sees captain and hooker Luca Bigi joined by Cherif Traore and Marco Riccioni.
Italy will also have a bench with plenty of experience to call on if required, with Carlo Canna, Guglielmo Palazzani, Maxime Mbanda and Federico Ruzza lying in wait.
Mattia Bellini is not available however as the talented Zebre winger was injured during a collision in training, with his condition to be evaluated in the coming days.
“We will face with courage the France that showed its qualities during the last Six Nations and the Autumn Nations Cup,” said Azzurri head coach Smith.
Italy starting XV
15 Jacopo Trulla (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, 3 caps)
14 Luca Sperandio (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
13 Marco Zanon (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
12 Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby, rookie)
11 Montanna Ioane (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
10 Paolo Garbisi (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
9 Stephen Varney (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
8 Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
7 Johan Meyer (Zebre Rugby Club, 9 caps)
6 Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)
5 David Sisi (Zebre Rugby Club, 11 caps)
4 Marco Lazzaroni (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
3 Marco Riccioni (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)
2 Luca Bigi (Zebre Rugby Club, 32 caps) – captain
1 Cherif Traore (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
Replacements
16 Gianmarco Lucchesi (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)
17 Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Rugby Club, 8 caps)
18 Giosuè Zilocchi (Zebre Rugby Club, 10 caps)
19 Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
20 Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)
21 Maxime Mbanda (Zebre Rugby Club, 25 caps)
22 Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre Rugby Club, 41 caps)
23 Carlo Canna (Zebre Rugby Club, 47 caps)
