Leonardo Ghiraldini will captain Italy in their World Cup opener against France at Twickenham on Saturday.
The hooker takes over the leadership reins from Sergio Parisse, who has been ruled out because of a leg injury. Samuela Vunisa will therefore start at No 8.
As expected, Edoardo Gori and Tommy Allan will start at scrumhalf and flyhalf respectively, with Leonardo Sarto and Giovanbattista Venditti on the wings.
South African-born lock Quintin Geldenhuys and veteran prop Martin Castrogiovanni have been named among the pack.
Italy – 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c), 1 Matias Aguero.
Subs: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Simone Favaro, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Enrico Bacchin.
Photo: Glyn Kirk/AFP Photo
