Italy Six Nations Squad 2021

Italy’s search for a first Six Nations victory since 2015 will go into another year after they ended the 2021 championship with another heavy defeat, losing 52-10 to Scotland.

Captain Luca Bigi got the visitors off to a good start with an early try at BT Murrayfield but it was one-way traffic after that as the Scots ran in eight tries.

This is Italy’s worst Six Nations in terms of points conceded, the leaking of 239 points in five games beating their previous tally of 228.

Related: Scotland secure try bonus point in 28 minutes against Italy

Italy team to play Scotland – Saturday 20 March

Edoardo Padovani; Mattia Bellini, Juan Ignacio Brex, Federico Mori, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Luca Bigi, Marco Riccioni, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Johan Meyer, Michele Lamaro.

Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Andrea Lovotti, Giosuè Zilocchi, Riccardo Favretto, Maxime Mbanda, Marcello Violi, Carlo Canna, Marco Zanon.

RUGBY WORLD VERDICT

Juan Ignacio Brex has been the most effective player at the ruck of anyone arriving at 50+ breakdowns these Six Nations, writes Alan Dymock. His 81% effectiveness epitomises a team sweating spinal fluid to do the job. So far Italy’s best has been well off the mark. But with Federico Mori joining Brex in the centres, Scotland may just have something unexpected to contend with.

Right at the back, though, Italy have opted for more experience. Edo Padovani replaces Jacopo Trulla at 15 – a player undoubtedly game to learn, but who has been far too shaky in this championship.

Throughout this tournament coach Franco Smith has seesawed over whether to start his best props on the bench, on the field, or a mix of the two (hey, recognising form up front is hard when you regularly lose). However, will Italy be strong enough for 80 minutes this time? And above all else, having conceded 40+ points to every other team this tournament, can Italy finally – finally – plug the gap? If they don’t, it will be one of the most demoralising defensive campaigns in memory.

Italy team to play Wales – Saturday 13 March

Jacopo Trulla; Mattia Bellini, Juan Ignacio Brex, Carlo Canna, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Luca Bigi, Giosuè Zilocchi, Niccolò Cannone, David Sisi, Sebastian Negri, Johan Meyer, Michele Lamaro.

Replacements: Oliviero Fabiani, Andrea Lovotti, Marco Riccioni, Marco Lazzaroni, Maxime Mbanda, Marcello Violi, Federico Mori, Edoardo Padovani.

Italy Team to play Ireland – Saturday 27 February

Jacopo Trulla; Luca Sperandio, Juan Ignacio Brex, Carlo Canna, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Callum Braley; Andrea Lovotti, Luca Bigi, Marco Riccioni, Marco Lazzaroni, David Sisi, Sebastian Negri Johan Meyer, Michele Lamaro.

Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Cherif Traore, Giosuè Zilocchi, Niccolò Cannone, Maxime Mbanda, Guglielmo Palazzani, Federico Mori, Mattia Bellini.

Italy Team to play England – Saturday 13 February

Jacopo Trulla; Luca Sperandio, Juan Ignacio Brex, Carlo Canna, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Andrea Lovotti, Luca Bigi, Marco Riccioni, Marco Lazzaroni, David Sisi, Sebastian Negri, Johan Meyer, Michele Lamaro.

Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Danilo Fischetti, Giosuè Zilocchi, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Guglielmo Palazzani, Tommaso Allan, Federico Mori.

Italy Team to play France – Saturday 6 February

Jacopo Trulla; Luca Sperandio, Marco Zanon, Juan Ignacio Brex, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Daniele Rimpelli, Luca Bigi, Marco Riccioni, Marco Lazzaroni, David Sisi, Sebastian Negri, Johan Meyer, Michele Lamaro.

Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Danilo Fischetti, Giosuè Zilocchi, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Maxime Mbanda, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna.

Italy Six Nations Squad 2021

A dislocated finger ruled scrum-half Stephen Varney out of the Ireland match but he is back in the squad ahead of Italy’s fourth-round fixture against Wales.

However, prop Cherif Traore will miss the rest of the championship after breaking his arm against Ireland. Daniele Rimpelli has been recalled to the squad to replace Traore.

Forwards

(DoB/Club/Position/Test debut/caps)

Luca Bigi (19 Apr 1991/Zebre/Hooker/2017 v Scotland/37)
Niccolò Cannone (17 May 1998/Benetton/Lock/2020 v Wales/13)
Pietro Ceccarelli (16 Feb 1992/Brive/Prop/2016 v Ireland/14)
Riccardo Favretto (10 Oct 2001/Mogliano/Lock/1)
Danilo Fischetti (26 Jan 1998/Zebre/Prop/2020 v Wales/12)
Michele Lamaro (3 Jun 1998/Benetton/Back-row/2020 v France/7)
Marco Lazzaroni (18 May 1995/Benetton/Back-row/2017 v Australia/14)
Andrea Lovotti (28 Jul 1989/Zebre/Prop/Prop/2016 v France/46)
Gianmarco Lucchesi (10 Sep 2000/Benetton/Hooker/2020 v Ireland/6)
Marco Manfredi (18 Sep 1997/Zebre/Hooker/Uncapped)
Maxime Mbanda (10 Apr 1993/Zebre/Flanker/2016 v USA/29)
Johan Meyer (26 Feb 1993/Zebre/Flanker/2018 v Ireland/14)
Sebastian Negri (30 Jun 1994/Benetton/Lock/2016 v USA/33)
Marco Riccioni (19 Oct 1997/Benetton/Prop/2019 v Ireland/15)
Daniele Rimpelli (23 Jun 1997/Zebre/Prop/2021 v France/1)
Federico Ruzza (4 Aug 1994/Benetton/Lock/2017 v Scotland/22)
David Sisi (5 Feb 1993/Zebre/No.8/2019 v Scotland/15)
Giosuè Zilocchi (15 Jan 1997/Zebre/Prop/2018 v Japan/15)

Backs

Tommaso Allan (26 Apr 1993/Benetton/Fly-half/2013 v Australia/61)
Mattia Bellini (8 Feb 1994/Zebre/Wing/2016 v France/31)
Callum Braley (20 Mar 1994/Benetton/Scrum-half/2019 v Ireland/10)
Juan Ignacio Brex (26 May 1992/Benetton/Centre/2021 v France/5)
Carlo Canna (25 Aug 1992/Zebre/Fly-half/2015 v Scotland/52)
Paolo Garbisi (26 Apr 2000/Benetton/Fly-half/2020 v Ireland/10)
Monty Ioane (30 Oct 1994/Benetton/Wing/2020 v Wales/6)
Federico Mori (13 Oct 2000/Kawasaki Robot Calvisano/Centre/2020 v Ireland/9)
Edoardo Padovani (15 May 1993/Benetton/Wing or full-back/2016 v England/28)
Luca Sperandio (28 Jan 1996/Benetton/Wing/2017 v France/11)
Jacopo Trulla (5 Jul 2000/Kawasaki Robot Calvisano/2020 v Scotland/7)
Stephen Varney (16 May 2001/Gloucester Rugby/Scrum-half/2020 v Scotland/7)
Marcello Violi (11 Oct 1993/Zebre/Scrum-half/2015 v Scotland/21)
Marco Zanon (3 Oct 1997/Benetton/Centre/2019 v France/6)

Additional invited players
Andrea Zambonin (3 sep 2000/Kawasaki Robot Calvisano/Flanker/Uncapped)

Italy Six Nations Fixtures 2021

(All kick-off times are GMT)

Round 1

Sat 6 February, Italy 10-50 France Dupont dazzles as France crush Italy in Six Nations opener

Round 2

Sat 13 February, England 41-18 Italy Jonny May scores wonder try against Italy

Round 3

Sat 27 February, Italy 10-48 Ireland Social media reacts to Iain Henderson try that wasn’t

Round 4 

Sat 13 March, Italy 7-48 Wales Double for Owens as Wales brush Italy aside

Round 5

Sat 20 March, Scotland 52-10 Italy Scotland secure try bonus point in 28 minutes against Italy

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