Rugby-Garbisi at scrumhalf for Italy against England

Alessandro Garbisi takes over at scrumhalf and Tommaso Allan is selected at fullback in the Italy team to face England in Rome in their Six Nations opener on Saturday. Garbisi is included ahead of Stephen Varney who started three of Italy's four games at last year's World Cup, as new head coach Gonzalo Quesada named his first team since taking over from Kieran Crowley.

Alessandro Garbisi takes over at scrumhalf and Tommaso Allan is selected at fullback in the Italy team to face England in Rome in their Six Nations opener on Saturday.

Garbisi is included ahead of Stephen Varney who started three of Italy's four games at last year's World Cup, as new head coach Gonzalo Quesada named his first team since taking over from Kieran Crowley. "The choice was made because we had a first training camp at the beginning of January where there were only the boys who played in Italy, then Varney had a calf problem and before Monday he had hardly been able to do any training with the team," Quesada explained.

Quesada named Allan at fullback, making his 80th appearance for Italy, Ange Capuozzo on the wing, with the other Garbisi brother, Paolo, chosen at flyhalf. "For me, Capuozzo can play both winger and fullback, his positioning depends on many factors," Quesada said.

"We combined the need to have someone like Capuozzo on the pitch and to have a place kicker with such a high level of effectiveness as Allan." Tommaso Menoncello makes a welcome return at centre, having missed the World Cup through injury and lock Federico Ruzza will earn his 50th cap, with another set of brothers also making the side, Niccolo and Lorenzo Cannone.

Hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi is another player back in the side after injury. The 23-year-old missed the whole of Italy's 2023 season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. "It's been a busy week of work. There is great enthusiasm throughout the group for the Six Nations opener. The staff and all the players have shown great commitment by trying to quickly dive into new methodologies," Quesada said.

The new coach has gone with experience in the starting team but has named uncapped prop Mirco Spagnolo on the bench. "Mirco Spagnolo for me is ready, he is having an interesting season and he is the best choice for the team," the head coach said.

"Whatever happens it will not change my opinion of him, because it is only his first game and I believe a lot in this guy." Italy team: 15-Tommaso Allan, 14-Ange Capuozzo, 13-Ignacio Brex, 12-Tommaso Menoncello, 11-Monty Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Alessandro Garbisi, 8-Lorenzo Cannone, 7-Michele Lamaro, 6-Sebastian Negri, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Niccolo Cannone, 3-Pietro Ceccarelli, 2-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1-Danilo Fischetti.

Replacements: 16-Giacomo Nicotera, 17-Mirco Spagnolo, 18-Giosue Zilocchi, 19-Andrea Zambonin, 20-Edoardo Iachizzi, 21-Manuel Zuliani, 22-Stephen Varney, 23-Lorenzo Pani.