New Italy coach Jacques Brunel has changed nearly half of Italy’s squad for his Six Nations debut against his home nation France on Saturday.
rugbyweek
There are seven changes from the final match under Nick Mallett, a 36-6 loss to Ireland in October that eliminated the Azzurri from the Rugby World Cup.
Aironi winger Giovanbattista Venditti will make his debut on the right wing, and the other newcomer in the 22, Benetton Treviso scrumhalf Tobias Botes, is in the reserves.
Prop Andrea Lo Cicero will earn his 92nd cap.
Italy stunned France 22-21 for the first time in the Six Nations last year but still finished last.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi , 14 Giovanbattista Venditti , 13 Tommaso Benvenutti , 12 Alberto Sgarbi , 11 Luke McLean , 10 Kristopher Burton , 9 Edoardo Gori , 8 Sergio Parisse (C), 7 Robert Barbieri , 6 Alessandro Zanni , 5 Quintin Geldenhuys , 4 Cornelius Van Zyl , 3 Martin Castrogiovanni , 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini , 1 Andrea Lo Cicero
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D’Apice , 17 Lorenzo Cittadini , 18 Marco Bortolami , 19 Simone Favaro , 20 Fabio Semenzato , 21 Tobias Botes , 22 Gonzalo Canale
23rd and 24th man (travelling to Paris): Luca Morisi, Michele Rizzo.