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Italy name six uncapped players in a 33-strong Six Nations squad

By Liam Heagney

13 Jan 2022

(Photo by PA)

Former All Blacks full-back Kieran Crowley has named a 33-strong Italy squad for his first Guinness Six Nations in charge of the Azzurri, a selection that includes six uncapped players. Having been in charge for five seasons at Benetton, it is no surprise that the Kiwi has leaned heavily on that franchise as his old club provides 23 players.

Of the other ten, six hail from Zebre, the other Italian franchise, with just four players included who currently ply their trade with clubs outside the country – Top 14 trio Pietro Ceccarelli (Brive), Paolo Garbisi (Montpellier) and Federico Mori (Bordeaux), and Stephen Varney from Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership.

Looking at the newcomers, an intriguing pick is Crowley’s fellow countryman Toa Halafihi. The 28-year-old New Zealander back row came through the ranks at Taranaki before a one-season stay was followed by a switch to Benetton where he has gone on to qualify for Italy under the residency rules and has impressed this season with his defence.

Francois Hougaard guests on RugbyPass Offload

It was rumoured last month that veteran Sergio Parisse could be in long for one last hurrah as he had just returned at Toulon after injury. Having been denied a World Cup send-off versus the All Blacks due to the October 2019 match getting cancelled due to a typhoon, the 38-year-old recently revealed he had been talking with Crowley about a possible return but that has not materialised.

Italy suffered defeats to the All Blacks and Argentina in the opening Autumn Nations series matches but they signed off with a win over Uruguay and Crowley now wants to build on that success in a Six Nations that gets underway with a February 6 trip to France that will be followed by the February 13 visit by England to Rome.

The legendary Parisse is back fit at Toulon and has held talks with new Italy boss Crowley 😲#Italy #SixNations #Toulon
https://t.co/zSSp2mWc5p
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 14, 2021

“Let’s start again from the victory against Uruguay,” said Crowley. “We have five important matches ahead of us in a tournament that represents a moment of the season that all rugby professionals and fans look forward to with great interest.

“We will continue our path of strengthening the team identity by trying to improve the mechanisms in our game, especially in the first part of the Verona camp which will be fundamental in preparation for the debut at the Six Nations against France.”

ITALY SIX NATIONS SQUAD 2022
PROP (6)
Pietro CECCARELLI (Brive, 17 caps)
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 15 caps)
Ivan NEMER (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)
Tiziano PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 21 caps)
Cherif TRAORE (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Parma, 15 caps)

HOOKER (3)
Epalahame FAIVA (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, uncapped)

SECOND ROW (4)
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)
Marco FUSER (Newcastle Falcons, 36 caps)
Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
David SISI (Zebre Parma, 18 caps)

BACK ROW (6)
Toa HALAFIHI (Benetton Rugby, uncapped)
Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps) – captain
Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 36 caps)
Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)
Braam STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 46 caps)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, uncapped)

SCRUM-HALF (3)
Callum BRALEY (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
Alessandro FUSCO (Fiamme Oro Rugby/Zebre Parma, 2 caps)
Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 9 caps)

OUT-HALF (3)
Giacomo DA RE (FEMI-CZ Rovigo/Benetton Rugby, uncaped)
Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier, 13 caps)
Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, uncapped)

CENTRE (3)
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 36 caps)
Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)

BACK THREE (5)
Pierre BRUNO (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
Montanna IOANE (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps)
Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, uncapped)
Federico MORI (Bordeaux, 11 caps)
Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 30 caps)

Not considered because of injury: Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby) Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Johan Meyer (Zebre Parma), Matteo Nocera (Fiamme Oro Rugby/Zebre Parma) Jake Polledri (Gloucester), Marco Riccioni (Saracens)

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 7 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 8 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 8 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 8 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 8 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 8 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍