Italy have made five changes from their last Test for their opening Six Nations clash against Scotland on Saturday as Tommaso Allan returns and Michele Lamaro takes over as captain.
Allan, who missed last season's Six Nations, earns his 82nd cap at Murrayfield and will start at fullback, meaning the influential Ange Capuozzo switches to wing in place of Jacopo Trulla, who played in their last game against New Zealand in November.
The other changes to the team announced on Thursday are in the pack as Lamaro replaces Manuel Zulinai on the flank and takes over the captaincy from Juan Ignacio Brex, who led the team in the 29-11 defeat to the All Blacks in Turin.
Lamaro missed the November clash against the Kiwis because of a shoulder injury.
Lorenzo Cannone replaces Ross Vintcent at the base of the scrum while Simone Ferrari comes into the front row for Marco Riccioni and Giacomo Nicotera takes over at hooker from Gianmarco Lucchesi.
All of the four forwards dropped for Saturday's game are on the replacements bench.
There will be a Six Nations debut for Dino Lamb while uncapped prop Luca Rizzoli will likely get a chance for a debut off the bench.
Italy finished fifth in last year's tournament, beating Scotland and Wales and drawing with France in their last fixtures and therefore take an unprecedented three-game unbeaten streak in the tournament to Murrayfield.
Italy:
Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Dino Lamb, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (captain), Lorenzo Cannone, Martin Page-Relo, Paolo Garbisi, Monty Ioane, Tommaso Menoncello, Juan Ignacio Brex, Ange Capuozzo, Tommaso Allan.
Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Luca Rizzoli, Marco Riccioni, Niccolo Cannone, Manuel Zulinai, Ross Vintcent, Alessandro Garbisi, Simone Gesi
Relive three classic Six Nations games between Italy and Scotland ahead of the 2025 tournament this weekend.
Further reading
- Why each team will find Six Nations success, and why they won't
- WATCH: Can Scotland win their first title since 1999? ESPN writers debate
- Six Nations and Women's Six Nations: Full fixture list
- Six Nations history, past winners, more