Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has brought in two new players for this week’s training camp in Rome.
Treviso’s Enrico Pavanello and Pino Patelli of Calvisano replace injured duo Carlo Antonio Del Fava and Ludovico Nitoglia.
Meanwhile, the president of the Italian Rugby Association (FIR) Giancarlo Dondi has admitted 2005 has not been the best year for his country on the pitch.
The Azzuri finished bottom in the RBS 6 Nations after failing to win a game, which led to coach John Kirwan being replaced by Berbizier.
"Well, 2005 hasn’t been our best year, we didn’t win any games in the RBS 6 Nations to start, which led to us changing our head coach," said Dondi.
"Under Berbizier we are taking a step forward and last summer’s tour of Argentina and Australia has been very positive."
Now Dondi is turning his attention towards 2006.
"Now with the RBS 6 Nations on the horizon again we most really believe in ourselves and give it our best shot.
"If the other teams are better than us then never mind, at least we know we gave it our best shot," added Dondi.
Italy squad for training camp in Rome:
Matias Aguero (Viadana), Matteo Barbini (Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Marco Bortolami (Narbonne), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), Martin Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Salvatore Costanzo (Benetton Treviso), Denis Dallan (Treviso), Santiago Dellape (Agen), Carlo Festuccia (SKG Gran Parma), Ezio Galon (Rugby Parma), Paul Griffen (Calvisano), Carlos Nieto (Viadana), Fabio Ongaro (Treviso), Luciano Orquera (Auch), Samuele Pace (Arix Viadana), Gonzalo Padro (Adriatic LNG Rovigo), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Antonio Pavanello (Benetton Treviso), Enrico Pavanello (Benetton Treviso), Pino Patelli (Calvisano), Aaron Ronald Persico (Agen), Ramiro Pez (Perpignan), Simon Picone (Benetton Treviso), Valerio Santillo (HDI UR Capitolina), Alessandro Stoica (Montpellier), Rima Wakarua (SKG Gran Parma), Maurizio Zaffiri (Calvisano), Alessandro Zanni (Calvisano)
