Brunel opts for youth

New Italy coach puts his faith in youngsters for French test

Last Updated: February 1, 2012 4:42pm

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Giovanbattista Venditti: Will make his Italy debut on the wing against France

Sky Bet

New Italy coach Jacques Brunel has named uncapped winger Giovanbattista Venditti in his starting line-up for Saturday's RBS Six Nations opener against France in Paris.

Brunel has opted for a youthful and largely untested back-line with Edoardo Gori selected at scrum-half and Tommaso Benvenutti and Alberto Sgarbi getting the nod at centre ahead of the more experienced Gonzalo Canale, who has to settle for a place the bench.

Australian-born Kris Burton lines up at fly-half with South African-born Tobias Botes, who was a late call-up on Tuesday, amongst the replacements and set to possibly make his debut.

In the pack, Mauro Bergamasco is a surprising absentee with the 32-year-old flanker - who has 79 caps to his name - not even afforded a place on the bench.

As expected Sergio Parisse skippers the side from number eight with Robert Barbieri and Alessandro Zanni alongside him in the back row.

Italy team: 15 - Andrea Masi, 14 - Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 - Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 - Alberto Sgarbi, 11 - Luke McLean, 10 - Kris Burton, 9 - Edoardo Gori, 8 - Sergio Parisse, 7 - Robert Barbieri, 6 - Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 - Cornelius Van Zyl, 3 - Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 - Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 - Andrea Lo Cicero

Replacements: Tommaso D'Apice, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Bortolami, Simone Favaro, Fabio Semenzato, Tobias Botes, Gonzalo Canale