Gonzalo Quesada has made two changes to the Italy Six Nations 2025 starting line-up that beat Wales in Cardiff a fortnight ago. With Monty Ioane injured, Simone Gesi will win his third cap on the wing against France at the Stadio Olimpico. Gianmarco Lucchesi starts at hooker in place of Giacomo Nicotera who drops to the bench.
Otherwise, this Italy side sticks with the tried and tested. Tomasso Allan keeps his place at full-back, next to Gesi and, on the other wing, the effervescent Ange Capuozzo. Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello continue to forge one of the strongest centre partnerships in European rugby, while Paolo Garbisi and Martin Page-Relo fill the half-back berths.
The pack is unchanged aside from Lucchesi coming in for Nicotera. Danilo Fischetti and Simone Ferrari once again get the nod at prop, with Niccolò Cannone and Federico Ruzza forming the second row. The back row consists of Sebastian Negri, captain Michele Lamoro and Lorenzo Cannone for the third game running.
Quesada has once again opted for a 6-2 split among the replacements, though he’s drafted three new players into the 23. Mirco Spagnolo, Giosuè Zilocchi and Riccardo Favretto come in for Luca Rizzoli, Marco Riccioni and Dino Lamb, respectively. Manuel Zuliani, Ross Vintcent, Alessandro Garbisi and Jacopo Trulla keep their spots on the bench.
Italy v France kicks off at 3.00pm GMT on Sunday 23 February.
Italy Six Nations team v France
15. Tommaso Allan
14. Ange Capuozzo
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Simone Gesi
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Martin Page-Relo
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Gianmarco Lucchesi
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Niccolò Cannone
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16. Giacomo Nicotera
17. Mirco Spagnolo
18. Giosuè Zilocchi
19. Riccardo Favretto
20. Manuel Zuliani
21. Ross Vintcent
22. Alessandro Garbisi
23. Jacopo Trulla
Italy Six Nations team v Wales
15. Tommaso Allan
14. Ange Capuozzo
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Monty Ioane
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Martin Page-Relo
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Giacomo Nicotera
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Niccolò Cannone
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16. Gianmarco Lucchesi
17. Luca Rizzoli
18. Marco Riccioni
19. Dino Lamb
20. Manuel Zuliani
21. Ross Vintcent
22. Alessandro Garbisi
23. Jacopo Trulla
Italy Six Nations team v Scotland
15. Tommaso Allan
14. Ange Capuozzo
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Monty Ioane
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Martin Page-Relo
1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Giacomo Nicotera
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Dino Lamb
5. Federico Ruzza
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16. Gianmarco Lucchesi
17. Luca Rizzoli
18. Marco Riccioni
19. Niccolò Cannone
20. Manuel Zuliani
21. Ross Vintcent
22. Alessandro Garbisi
23. Simone Gesi
Italy 2025 Six Nations squad
Forwards
Simone Ferrari
Riccardo Faveretto
Danilo Fischetti
Federico Ruzza
Marco Riccioni
Lorenzo Cannone
Luca Rizzoli
Alessandro Izekor
Giosue Zilocchi
Michele Lamaro
Gianmarco Lucchesi
Sebastian Negri
Gianmarco Nicotera
Ross Vintcent
Niccolo Cannone
Manuel Zuliani
Dino Lamb
Backs
Alessandro Garbisi
Juan Ignacio Brex
Martin Page-Relo
Tommaso Menoncello
Stephen Varney
Ange Capuozzo
Tommaso Allen
Matt Gallagher
Paolo Garbisi
Simone Gesi
Leonardo Marin
Monty Ioane
Jacopo Trulla
Italy Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2024
Round 1: v England (Stadio Olimpico)
Starting XV: Tommaso Allan, Lorenzo Pani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Garbisi; Danilo Fischetti, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Pietro Ceccarelli, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (captain), Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Edoardo Iachizzi, Manuel Zuliani, Stephen Varney, Federico Mori
Result: Italy 24-27 England
Round 2: v Ireland (Aviva Stadium)
Starting XV: Ange Capuozzo; Lorenzo Pani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Pietro Ceccarelli, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Alessandro Izekor, Manuel Zulani, Michele Lamaro
Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Ross Vintcent, Martin Page-Relo, Tommaso Allan, Federico Mori
Result: Ireland 36-0 Italy
Round 3: v France (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)
Starting XV: Ange Capuozzo; Tommaso Menoncello, Juan Ignacio Brex, Federico Mori, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Giosue Zilocchi, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, Michele Lamaro, Ross Vintcent
Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Mirco Spagnolo, Simone Ferrari, Matteo Canali, Andrea Zambonin, Manuel Zuliani, Stephen Varney, Leonardo Marin
Result: France 13-13 Italy
Round 4: v Scotland (Stadio Olimpico)
Starting XV: Ange Capuozzo; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Ross Vintcent
Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Lorenzo Cannone, Stephen Varney, Leonardo Marin, Federico Mori
Result: Italy 31-29 Scotland
Round 5: v Wales (Principality Stadium)
Starting XV: Lorenzo Pani; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Montanna Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani, Martin Page-Relo, Leonardo Marin
Result: Wales 21-24 Italy
Italy Six Nations squad 2024
Forwards
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby)
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma)
Matteo NOCERA (Zebre Parma)
Luca RIZZOLI (Zebre Parma)
Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby)
Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Benetton Rugby)
Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby)
Marco MANFREDI (Zebre Parma)
Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby)
Matteo CANALI (Zebre Parma)
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby)
Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby)
Andrea ZAMBONIN (Zebre Parma)
Riccardo FAVRETTO (Benetton Rugby)
Alessandro IZEKOR (Benetton Rugby)
Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugbys)
Ross VINTCENT (Exeter Chiefs)
Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby)
Backs
Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby)
Martin PAGE-RELO (Lyon)
Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester)
Paolo GARBISI (Montpellier)
Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby)
Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby)
Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby)
Federico MORI (Bayonne)
Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby)
Ange CAPUOZZO (Stade Toulousain,
Monty IOANE (Lyon)
Simone GESI (Zebre Parma)
Louis LYNAGH (Harlequins)
Francois MEY (Clermont)
Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma)
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