sign in sign up
<<
Home , Aironi, Alberto De Marchi, Alberto Sgarbi, Alessandro Troncon, Alessandro Zanni, Bulls (rugby union)

v at Stade de France, 9.2.2014 (16:00 local time)

Head coach Jacques Brunel changes a third of his side from the team which lost to Wales. Gonzalo Garcia comes in at centre to win his 30th cap in place of , whilst four others are promoted from the bench: , , and Tommaso Iannone. Four drop to the bench , , and Angelo Esposito. The starting XV has a total of 566 caps; the bench has a further 295 caps. 77% of the caps are contained within the forwards. The average age of the walk-on team is 27.1 years; the average on the bench is almost 29.6

AGE & EXPERIENCE

110 Total caps 40

100 6NC caps Age 90 35 80

70 30 60 Caps Age 50 25 40

30

20 20

10

0 15 Gori (9) Gori Minto (6) Minto Furno (5) Furno Allan (10) Allan Sarto (11) Sarto Rizzo (17) Rizzo Zanni (20) Zanni Botes (21) Botes Parisse (8) Parisse Garcia (12) Garcia McLean (15) McLean Cittadini (18) Cittadini Iannone (14) Iannone Ghiraldini (2) Ghiraldini Giazzon (16) Giazzon Orquera (22) Orquera de Marchi (1) Marchi de Esposito (23) Esposito Bortolami (19) Bortolami Geldenhuys (4) Geldenhuys Campagnaro (13) Campagnaro Castrogiovanni (3) Castrogiovanni Ma.Bergamasco (7) Ma.Bergamasco

(1) ALBERTO DE MARCHI TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 13 5 8 - - - 4 - 9 Born: 13.3.1986 (27) in Jesolo (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 6 1 5 - - - 2 - 4 Ht: 1.83m (6'0") Wt: 118kg (18st 8lb) v France 1 - 1 - - - 1 - - Position: Prop @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 9.6.2012 v Argentina (San Juan) RBS 6N 2014 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 3.2.2013 v France (Roma) PRO12 2013/14 9 7 2 - - - 3 1 5 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 4 2 2 - - - - - 4 Club debuts: 2006-07 , 2010-11 , 2012-13 Treviso Began playing in Italy's lower levels with San Dona 2004, made Super-10 debut for Parma in the local derby against Gran Parma in November 2006 Italy A debut came against v Georgia in the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest 2007, now played 12 games at this level, including three appearances the 2011 Churchill Cup in His only senior try to date came for Parma at home to Prato in the Super-10 on 1 May 2010 Part of training squad for 2011 RWC and 2012 RBS 6 Nations but injury prevented him making his debut until the summer tour against Argentina in San Juan June 2012 Came off the bench to make his RBS 6 Nations bow during Italy's Garibaldi Trophy victory over France at the Stadio Olimpico in round one 2013. Has played in all games in the tournament since but his only start was against England in round 4

Compiled by (2) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 60 48 12 5 4 20 14 - 46 Born: 26.12.1984 (29) in Padova (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 29 27 2 1 - - 5 - 24 Ht: 1.83m (6'0") Wt: 102kg (16st 0lb) v France 6 5 1 - - - 2 - 4 Position: Hooker @ Stade de France 3 3 ------3 Test debut: 11.6.2006 v Japan (Tokyo) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 17.3.2007 v Ireland (Roma) PRO12 2013/14 4 4 - - - - 1 1 2 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 3 3 ------3 Club debuts: 2003-04 Padova, 2005-06 Calvisano, 2009-10 Treviso Italian Championship finalist with Calvisano in 2006, skippered them to success in 2008 final, and won another crown with Benetton Treviso two years later Made his Italy A debut against in 2005; also played for them in the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest 2007 This is his 8th successive RBS 6 Nations campaign since his debut against Ireland in in 2007, missing only two possible matches during that time Played in two RWC with Italy, 2007 and 2011, has played in each of Italy's last 15 tests,13 as a starter. His 4 test tries to date have come against Argentina, Pacific Islanders, Japan and Tonga

(3) MARTIN

CASTROGIOVANNI TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Toulon Overall 102 79 23 1 12 60 29 1 72 Born: 21.10.1981 (32) in Parana (Argentina) RBS 6 Nations 50 37 13 - 5 25 7 1 42 Ht: 1.88m (6'2") Wt: 117kg (18st 5lb) v France 11 6 5 - 2 10 2 - 9 Position: Prop @ Stade de France 5 4 1 - 1 5 - - 5 Test debut: 8.6.2002 v (Hamilton(NZ)) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 22.2.2003 v Ireland (Roma) Top14 2013/14 12 5 7 - - - 5 1 6 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 5 3 2 - - - 4 - 1 Club debuts: 2001-02 Calvisano, 2006-07 Leicester, 2013-14 Toulon Has been in four Premiership winning squads with Leicester in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013 and a finalist with them in 2011 and 2012. Made his RBS 6 Nations debut v Ireland 2003, and has appeared in every tournament since. Last week became only the 6th player, and the first from Italy, to play 50 games in the RBS 6 Nations. Is the world's most prolific try-scoring prop with 12, his most recent coming against France in round 1 last year Has appeared for Italy in three Rugby World Cups: skippered them for the first time during the two games on the North American tour summer 2012 and then against Wales in last year's RBS 6 Nations. Played in his 100th test against Fiji in Cremona last November

(4) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Overall 42 36 6 - - - 12 - 30 Born: 19.6.1981 (32) in Krugersdorp (S Africa) RBS 6 Nations 21 19 2 - - - 5 - 16 Ht: 2.03m (6'8") Wt: 126kg (19st 11lb) v France 4 3 1 - - - 2 - 2 Position: Lock @ Stade de France 2 2 ------2 Test debut: 13.6.2009 v (Canberra) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 6.2.2010 v Ireland (Dublin) PRO12 2013/14 8 8 - - - - 2 - 6 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 4 4 ------4 Club debuts: 2002 XV, 2003 , 2005-06 Viadana, 2010-11 Aironi, 2012-13 Zebre Made his first class debut for Natal in the Cup, March 2002, going on to become a losing finalist later in the same year against Natal Wildebeest. World U21 Championship winner with in 2002. Made his way to Italy summer 2005 when signing for Viadana. Made his Italy A debut v Scotland in 2009, his test debut followed v Australia in Canberra June that year Appeared in three Italian Championship finals with Viadana in 2007, 2009, and 2010 when he was skipper, but lost them all (to Benetton Treviso) His RBS 6 Nations bow came in Italy's opening game of the 2010 tournament against Ireland at Croke Park. Has since played in every one of Italy's last 21 RBS 6 Nations matches, 19 as a starter Has yet to score a test try.

Compiled by (5) JOSHUA FURNO TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Overall 14 6 8 - - - 6 - 8 Born: 21.10.1989 (24) in Melbourne (Australia) RBS 6 Nations 4 2 2 - - - 2 - 2 Ht: 2.01m (6'7") Wt: 114kg (17st 13lb) v France ------Position: Lock @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 20.8.2011 v Scotland (Murrayfield) RBS 6N 2014 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 17.3.2012 v Scotland (Roma) Top14 2013/14 12 5 7 - - - 2 - 10 FACTBOX: ACC 2013/14 6 6 - - 1 5 3 - 3 Club debuts: 2009-10 Viadana, 2010-11 Aironi, 2012-13 Narbonne, 2013-14 Biarritz Played for Italy U19 in 2008, Italy U20 in Six Nations 2008 & 2009, and the Junior World Championships in Wales 2008 & Japan 2009 Italy A debut came against England Saxons at Worcester 2011, he also played for them in Churchill Cup that summer Test debut came as a replacement in the World Cup warm up game against Scotland at Murrayfield August 2011 Made his RBS 6 Nations debut off the bench in the round 5 fixture against Scotland in Rome 2012, whilst his only two starts to date came in rounds 4 & 5 last year. Made a first test start in the second row against in June 2012; has played in Italy's last 5 tests, coming on as a replacement in the last 4.

(6) FRANCESCO MINTO TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 8 5 3 - - - 2 - 6 Born: 20.5.1987 (26) in Mirano (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 6 3 3 - - - 2 - 4 Ht: 1.93m (6'4") Wt: 104kg (16st 5lb) v France 1 1 - - - - 1 - - Position: Flanker @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 17.11.2012 v New Zealand (Roma) RBS 6N 2014 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 3.2.2013 v France (Roma) 0 ------FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 2 - 2 - - - - - 2 Club debuts: 2006-07 Parma, 2010-11 Treviso Represented Italy U21 at the Six Nations 2007 Italy A debut came in IRB Nations Cup Bucharest 2008, played in same tournament 2009 & 2010. Represented Italy A at the Churchill Cup in England summer 2011 and now has 16 caps at A level The only senior try he has ever scored was for Treviso in Glasgow in the PRO12 in January 2013 Made test debut against the All Blacks at Rome's Stadio Olimpico in November 2012. His first 7 caps all came in successive tests; in the autumn internationals 2012 and throughout the 2013 RBS 6 Nations. His 8 caps to date have all been in the second row whilst he has not started in the No. 6 shirt in club rugby since Treviso's visit to Edinburgh in May 2012.

(7) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Zebre Overall 96 84 12 - 15 75 30 - 66 Born: 1.5.1979 (34) in Padova (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 40 39 1 - 5 25 5 - 35 Ht: 1.83m (6'0") Wt: 102kg (16st 0lb) v France 7 7 ------7 Position: Back-row @ Stade de France 4 4 ------4 Test debut: 18.11.1998 v Netherlands (Huddersfield) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 5.2.2000 v Scotland (Roma) PRO12 2013/14 8 8 - - 1 5 2 1 5 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 5 5 ------5 Club debuts: 1997-98 Padova, 2000-01 Treviso, 2003-04 Stade Francais, 2011-12 Aironi, 2012-13 Zebre Appeared in three French Championship finals for Stade Francais, winning 2004 & 2007, and was a Heineken Cup finalist with the Parisiens in 2005 Test debut came in Huddersfield v Netherlands in RWC qualifier 1998 (remains the only Italian forward to score two tries on debut), has now appeared at four Rugby World Cups Now has the longest international career of any Italian test player beating whose 21 caps were spread between 1949- 1964 Played in Italy's first ever RBS 6 Nations game, when they beat Scotland in 2000 and is the equal second top Italian try scorer in the RBS 6 Nations (5) after his brother Mirco Usually an openside flanker, his two appearances in 2003 RBS 6 Nations were both on the right wing, and perhaps more remarkably he started game v England in 2009 at scrum half

Compiled by (8) (c) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Stade Francais . Position: No.8 Overall 102 99 3 - 11 58 29 1 72 Born: 12.9.1983 (30) in La Plata (Argentina) RBS 6 Nations 43 43 - - 4 23 8 1 34 Ht: 1.95m (6'5") Wt: 110kg (17st 4lb) v France 9 9 - - 2 10 2 - 7 Test kicking: 0C/0PG/1DG @ Stade de France 4 4 ------4 Test debut: 8.6.2002 v New Zealand (Hamilton(NZ)) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 15.2.2004 v England (Roma) Top14 2013/14 14 13 1 - - - 12 - 2 FACTBOX: ERC 2013/14 ------Club debuts: 2002-03 Treviso, 2005-06 Stade Francais French Championship winner with Stade Francais in 2007 and finalist in the Amlin Challenge Cup 2011 and 2013, captaining both times Played all Italy's games at RWC 2003 a month after his 20th birthday, has now appeared in three RWC tournaments He has started more RBS 6 Nations games for Italy than any other player (43), and has never been on the bench in the tournament Captain of the Azzurri since 2008 he has led Italy in his last 54 internationals, holds the Italian record as captain. He has been No.8 and skipper in each of Italy's last 9 test matches. The world's most capped Number 8, he scored his 11th test try on the occasion of his 100th cap, against Fiji in the autumn internationals

(9) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 30 22 8 - 4 20 11 - 19 Born: 5.3.1990 (23) in Prato (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 11 9 2 - - - 3 - 8 Ht: 1.80m (5'11") Wt: 83kg (13st 1lb) v France 2 1 1 - - - 1 - 1 Position: Scrum-half @ Stade de France 1 1 ------1 Test debut: 20.11.2010 v Australia (Firenze) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 5.2.2011 v Ireland (Roma) PRO12 2013/14 6 4 2 - 1 5 3 1 2 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 3 3 ------3 Club debuts: 2009-10 Prato, 2010-11 Treviso Played for Italy U20s in Six Nations 2009 & 2010 (when he was skipper), and the Junior World Championships in Japan, 2009 Italy A debut came against Romania in 2009,made his full test debut as 20 year old v Australia in Florence, November 2010 Played in all Italy's games at RWC 2011 in New Zealand His 4 test tries to date have come against Japan, Russia, Argentina and USA He has played in Italy's last seven RBS 6 Nations games and missed just one of Italy's last 19 tests.

(10) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Perpignan. Position: Fly-half Overall 4 2 2 - 1 21 1 - 3 Born: 26.4.1993 (20) in Vicenza (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 1 1 - - - 5 - - 1 Ht: 1.85m (6'1") Wt: 87kg (13st 9lb) v France ------Test kicking: 6 from 15 (40%) 2C/4PG/0DG @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 9.11.2013 v Australia (Torino) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 - - - 5 - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 1.2.2014 v Wales (Cardiff) Top14 2013/14 4 2 2 - - 15 1 - 3 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 4 2 2 - - 12 1 - 3 Club debuts: 2013-14 Perpignan Played U19 with Western Province the year they won the title, October 2012, claiming 7 points in the victory over Blue . Played for Scotland U17, U18 and U20 at Junior World Championships in in 2012 and in France the following year. Played in U20 Six Nations for Scotland in 2012 and 2013. Has played twice against Italy at U20 level. First game of senior rugby was in Top-14 for Perpignan against Racing Metro in September, scoring 11 points in the game. Capped for Italy after just 2 games of professional rugby, scoring a try on his debut against the Wallabies in Turin in November 2013. Made his debut in the RBS 6 Nations last week, kicking 5 points.

Compiled by (11) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Zebre Overall 3 3 - - 1 5 - - 3 Born: 15.1.1992 (22) in Zevio,VR (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 1 1 ------1 Ht: 1.93m (6'4") Wt: 91kg (14st 4lb) v France ------Position: Wing @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 22.6.2013 v Scotland () RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 1.2.2014 v Wales (Cardiff) PRO12 2013/14 8 7 1 - 3 15 1 1 6 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 4 3 1 - - - - - 4 Club debuts: 2012-13 Zebre A member of the Italian National Academy, he made his debut in professional rugby for Zebre against Glasgow in September 2012. Scored a try on his debut for Italy U20 against Wales in 2011 and also scored 2 more tries in the U20 Six Nations in 2012, againt Wales and Scotland. Appeared in two Junior World Championships, in 2011 in Italy and 2012 in Cape Town scoring a try against England Scored a try in the first minute of his test debut against Scotland in the quadrangular tournament in South Africa last summer Added a second cap against the Wallabies in the autumn internationals and made his RBS 6 Nations debut last week in Cardiff.

(12) GONZALO GARCIA TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Zebre. Position: Centre Overall 29 25 4 2 1 8 6 - 23 Born: 18.2.1984 (29) in Mendoza (Argentina) RBS 6 Nations 14 10 4 1 - 3 3 - 11 Ht: 1.85m (6'1") Wt: 97kg (15st 3lb) v France 2 2 - - - - 1 - 1 Test kicking: 1 from 3 (33%) 0C/1PG/0DG @ Stade de France 1 1 ------1 Test debut: 21.6.2008 v South Africa (Cape Town) RBS 6N 2014 ------RBS 6N debut: 7.2.2009 v England (Twickenham) PRO12 2013/14 9 9 - - 1 16 1 1 7 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 5 5 - - - 3 - - 5 Club debuts: 2007-08 Calvisano, 2009-10 Treviso, 2012-13 Zebre Has played in one Italian Championship final, when Calvisano beat Treviso in Monza in 2008. Member of the Treviso squad when they took the title in 2010 Represented Argentina at the 2005 U21 World Championships in his home town His only test try to date was in the game v Springboks at Udine in November 2009 Played in three of Italy's games at RWC2011, did not gain another cap until coming off the bench against Wales in round three last season. Started in rounds 4 & 5 last year scoring his first points in the RBS 6 Nations by kicking a penalty goal in the victory over Ireland

(13) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 3 2 1 - 3 15 1 - 2 Born: 13.3.1993 (20) in Mirano (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 1 1 - - 2 10 - - 1 Ht: 1.83m (6'0") Wt: 88kg (13st 12lb) v France ------Position: Centre @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 16.11.2013 v Fiji (Cremona) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 - - 2 10 - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 1.2.2014 v Wales (Cardiff) PRO12 2013/14 6 6 - - 1 5 2 1 3 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 4 4 - 1 - - - - 4 Club debuts: 2012-13 Treviso Played for Italy U20 in the Junior World Championships 2011 in Italy and 2012 in South Africa and played all ten games at starting centre in the U20 Six Nations in 2012 and 2013 scoring tries against Scotland and Ireland in the latter. Capped for Italy after only 8 games of senior rugby, having scored just one try for Treviso against Cardiff in November Played in Italy's last threee tests, and scored a maiden test try during the defeat to Argentina in Rome in November. Named Man of the Match in his try scoring RBS 6 Nations debut against Wales last week, only the second player after Scotland's Dave Denton to receive the accolade on his first appearance. Equalled 's record of scoring 2 tries in a game for Italy during the RBS 6 Nations, only the 7th player to grab a brace of tires on his championship bow, and the first since 2005

Compiled by (14) TOMMASO IANNONE TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Zebre Overall 7 4 3 - - - 2 - 5 Born: 16.9.1990 (23) in Treviso (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 Ht: 1.83m (6'0") Wt: 83kg (13st 1lb) v France ------Position: Fly-half @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 10.11.2012 v Tonga () RBS 6N 2014 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 1.2.2014 v Wales (Cardiff) PRO12 2013/14 9 6 3 - 1 16 1 1 7 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 3 3 - 1 - - - - 3 Club debuts: 2009-10 Parma, 2011-12 Treviso, 2013-14 Zebre A product of the Tarvisium club, he made his debut for Parma against Roma in Sept 2009, joined Treviso in the PRO12, making his debut for them v in Sept 2011 Having also played at U18 and U19 levels, he represented Italy at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championships in Japan Played for Italy U20 in the Six Nations 2009 and 2010 starting all 10 games at fly half Played for Emerging Italy at the 2012 Nations Cup in Bucharest, on the left wing Has appeared in six of Italy's last seven test matches and made his RBS 6 Nations bow off the bench last week. This will be his first start in the tournament.

(15) LUKE MCLEAN TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso. Position: Full-back Overall 53 44 9 2 7 74 12 - 41 Born: 29.6.1987 (26) in Townsville (Australia) RBS 6 Nations 24 22 2 1 3 33 3 - 21 Ht: 1.90m (6'3") Wt: 95kg (14st 13lb) v France 4 4 - 1 - - 1 - 3 Test kicking: 13 from 22 (59%) 0C/13PG/0DG @ Stade de France 2 2 ------2 Test debut: 21.6.2008 v South Africa (Cape Town) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 7.2.2009 v England (Twickenham) PRO12 2013/14 8 6 2 - 1 5 3 - 5 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 6 6 ------6 Club debuts: 2007 Perth Spirit, 2007-08 Calvisano, 2009-10 Treviso First played in Italy in 2007 with Calvisano, making his debut against Viadana in December. Has won two Italian Championship finals: with Calvisano 2008 and Treviso 2010 Played in all Italy's pool games at RWC2011; has played in Italy's last 16 test matches, the last four as full-back. Since his RBS 6 Nations debut against England at Twickenham in 2009 he has missed being selected for the matchday squad in just one of Italy's last 26 games in the championship - round 5 against Scotland in 2012 His three RBS 6 Nations tries to date came against Wales in Cardiff in 2010, Ireland in Rome in 2011, and England at Twickenham in 2013

(16) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Zebre Overall 16 2 14 - - - 5 - 11 Born: 16.1.1986 (28) in Mestre,VE (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 6 - 6 - - - 2 - 4 Ht: 1.83m (6'0") Wt: 108kg (17st 0lb) v France 1 - 1 - - - 1 - - Position: Hooker @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 9.6.2012 v Argentina (San Juan) RBS 6N 2014 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 3.2.2013 v France (Roma) PRO12 2013/14 7 6 1 - - - 1 1 5 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 4 2 2 - - - - - 4 Club debuts: 2008-09 Parma, 2011-12 Aironi, 2011-12 Rovigo, 2012-13 Zebre Represented Italy U21 at the 2006 & 2007 Six Nations playing in all games but switching position from prop to hooker in the process Propped for Italy U21 at World Championships when they were held in France 2006, captained Emerging Italy who defeated England Students in March 2012 in L'Aquila Italy A debut came against v Scotland in Perth February 2009, also appeared for 'A' team in two Nations Cups; in Bucharest 2009 & 2010 Made his senior debut on Italy's tour to the Americas playing against Argentina in San Juan in June 2012, has missed just two Italy tests since then but has started in only 2 of his 16 caps to date Has been a replacement in all six of Italy's RBS 6 Nations games since his debut in the tournament.

Compiled by (17) MICHELE RIZZO TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 12 7 5 - - - 4 - 8 Born: 16.9.1982 (31) in Dolo,VE (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 3 2 1 - - - 1 - 2 Ht: 1.88m (6'2") Wt: 108kg (17st 0lb) v France ------Position: Prop @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 25.6.2005 v Australia (Melbourne) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 25.2.2012 v Ireland (Dublin) PRO12 2013/14 9 8 1 1 - - 2 1 6 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 6 4 2 - - - - - 6 Club debuts: 2000-01 Padova, 2009-10 Treviso Won the Italian Championship final 2010 with Treviso Represented Italy U21 in the 2002 & 2003 Six Nations Made debut for Italy A v France A in 2004, has now played 12 times for Italy A, including the Nations Cup in Lisbon 2006, and Bucharest 2007 & 2009 Test debut came on tour to Australia June 2005, had to wait almost 3 years for his second cap, against the Springboks in South Africa June 2008, then almost another four years before his 3rd cap coincided with his RBS 6 Nations debut. Has started Italy's last four tests in the No.1 shirt, whilst his thee appearances in the RBS 6 Nations have been against Ireland in 2012 and 2013 and Wales 2014.

(18) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 28 8 20 - 2 10 7 - 21 Born: 17.12.1982 (31) in Bergamo (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 12 3 9 - - - 3 - 9 Ht: 1.90m (6'3") Wt: 118kg (18st 8lb) v France 2 - 2 - - - 1 - 1 Position: Prop @ Stade de France 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 Test debut: 2.2.2008 v Ireland (Dublin) RBS 6N 2014 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 2.2.2008 v Ireland (Dublin) PRO12 2013/14 6 5 1 - - - 1 1 4 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 6 5 1 - 1 5 - - 6 Club debuts: 2005-06 Calvisano, 2009-10 Treviso Finalist in the Italian Championship with Calvisano 2006, a winner with Benetton Treviso in 2010 Represented Italy A making his debut in 2006 IRB Nations Cup in Lisbon, Portugal, competing in the same tournament the following year in Bucharest Had to wait until RBS 6 Nations 2008 to make his test debut, off the bench against Ireland at Croke Park then waited four years for his second appearance in the tournament in the opening round against France 2012 His first start in the RBS 6 Nations came against Ireland in round 3 of the 2012 tournament. He has played in Italy's last 11 RBS 6 Nations matches. Has appeared in Italy's last 15 test matches and doubled his tally of test tries when he scored against Australia in Turin in November

(19) MARCO BORTOLAMI TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Zebre Overall 100 87 13 3 7 35 28 1 71 Born: 12.6.1980 (33) in Padova (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 46 41 5 - 1 5 7 1 38 Ht: 1.95m (6'5") Wt: 112kg (17st 8lb) v France 9 8 1 - - - - - 9 Position: Lock @ Stade de France 6 5 1 - - - - - 6 Test debut: 23.6.2001 v Namibia (Windhoek) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 2.2.2002 v France (Paris) PRO12 2013/14 11 11 - - 1 5 2 1 8 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 5 4 1 - - - - - 5 Club debuts: 1999-00 Padova, 2004-05 Narbonne, 2006-07 Gloucester, 2010-11 Aironi, 2012-13 Zebre Started his senior rugby career with Petrarca Padova 1999, making his senior debut against Bologna in May 2000 EDF Cup finalist with Gloucester 2009 Has appeared at three Rugby Worlds Cups and last week became only the fifth Italian to gain a century of test caps Was captain throughout Italy's 2005, 2006 & 2007 RBS 6 Nations campaigns; skippered Italy A to 3rd place in their only appearance at the Churchill Cup summer 2011 in England Has recently broken a long try draught when he scored against Treviso in the PRO12 at Christmas, five years after his previous try which was for Gloucester at Calvisano in the European Cup

Compiled by (20) ALESSANDRO ZANNI TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 81 62 19 - 3 15 24 1 56 Born: 31.1.1984 (30) in Udine (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 37 31 6 - 1 5 8 1 28 Ht: 1.93m (6'4") Wt: 107kg (16st 11lb) v France 7 6 1 - - - 2 - 5 Position: Flanker @ Stade de France 4 3 1 - - - - - 4 Test debut: 12.11.2005 v Tonga (Prato) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 25.2.2006 v France (Paris) PRO12 2013/14 9 9 - - 2 10 3 1 5 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 5 4 1 - - - - - 5 Club debuts: 2005-06 Calvisano, 2009-10 Treviso Won Italian Championship finals twice, with Calvisano 2008 and Treviso 2010 Represented Italy at U18, U19 and U21 levels, playing in the 2004 & 2005 U21 Six Nations, an ever present throughout both in back row Has played in the last 34 RBS 6 Nations games for Italy starting the last 28 in a row. Has won 56 successive Azzurri caps, a sequence which began with Italy's game against the Pacific Islanders in Reggio Nell'Emilia in November 2008 Has scored just 3 test tries, one against Canada in 2006, one against Russia in RWC2011 and one versus Scotland at Murrayfield in round 2 of last season's RBS 6 Nations.

(21) TOBIAS BOTES TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso. Position: Scrum-half Overall 20 5 15 - - 8 5 - 15 Born: 26.4.1984 (29) in Worcester (S Africa) RBS 6 Nations 11 3 8 - - 8 3 - 8 Ht: 1.80m (5'11") Wt: 87kg (13st 9lb) v France 2 1 1 - - 3 1 - 1 Test kicking: 3 from 8 (38%) 1C/2PG/0DG @ Stade de France 1 - 1 - - 3 - - 1 Test debut: 4.2.2012 v France (Paris) RBS 6N 2014 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 RBS 6N debut: 4.2.2012 v France (Paris) PRO12 2013/14 8 4 4 - - 14 2 1 5 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 5 4 1 - - 14 - - 5 Club debuts: 2004 Boland, 2006 , 2008 , 2008-09 Treviso Transferred over to Italy start of 2008/9 season, signing for Benetton Treviso. Made his debut v Gran Parma in opening game Super 10 season in September 2008 Won with Griquas in 2007, and won Italian Championship with Treviso 2010 scoring 11 points in the final v Viadana Made his test debut in the round one RBS 6 Nations game against France in Paris in 2012, kicking a penalty with his only attempt at goal. Has played in all 11 of Italy's RBS 6 Nations games since his debut adding a further 5 points (1C,1P) against Ireland in Dublin last year Has played in Italy's last 15 test matches

(22) TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Zebre. Position: Fly-half Overall 37 23 14 5 3 117 10 - 27 Born: 12.10.1981 (32) in Cordoba (Argentina) RBS 6 Nations 16 11 5 2 1 41 3 - 13 Ht: 1.70m (5'7") Wt: 79kg (12st 6lb) v France 4 3 1 - - 10 2 - 2 Test kicking: 36 from 54 (67%) 12C/24PG/2DG @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 6.11.2004 v Canada (L'Aquila) RBS 6N 2014 - - - 1 - - - - - RBS 6N debut: 6.2.2005 v Ireland (Roma) PRO12 2013/14 11 9 2 - 1 84 2 1 8 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 6 4 2 - - 20 - - 6 Club debuts: 2003-04 Padova, 2005-06 Auch, 2006-07 Brive, 2011-12 Aironi, 2012-13 Zebre Scored over 350 points for Brive in Top-14. Holds the PRO12 record for most penalty kicks in a game - 9 out of 9, and has now scored over 200 points in the competition Made his RBS 6 Nations debut in 2005, but has only appeared in 16 games in the tournament since, including 4 last year Test debut came against Canada in L'Aquila 2004. Went RWC 2011 playing in three of Italy's pool games. Has now kicked 2 drop goals in test matches for Italy; the first on his 28th cap against New Zealand, the second in his man of the match winning performance in the victory over France in round one 2013, his 30th cap His only RBS 6 Nations try to date came 8 years ago against Wales in Rome

Compiled by (23) ANGELO ESPOSITO TEST CAREER Caps Starts Rep SNU Try Pts W D L Team: Benetton Treviso Overall 1 1 ------1 Born: 14.6.1993 (20) in Napoli (Italy) RBS 6 Nations 1 1 ------1 Ht: 1.88m (6'2") Wt: 90kg (14st 2lb) v France ------Position: Wing @ Stade de France ------Test debut: 1.2.2014 v Wales (Cardiff) RBS 6N 2014 1 1 ------1 RBS 6N debut: 1.2.2014 v Wales (Cardiff) PRO12 2013/14 3 3 - - 1 5 - 1 2 FACTBOX: HC 2013/14 3 3 ------3 Club debuts: 2012-13 Treviso Started playing his rugby with Ruggers Tarvisium in Serie B, made his debut for Treviso playing against Connacht in the PRO12 in November 2012. Made Italy A debut in June 2011 against Tonga in the Churchill Cup plate final at Worcester Played for Italy U18 in all five of their games during the 2010/11 season, including the Six Nations Festival and U18 European Championship Tournament in France, scoring 2 tries in the game against Georgia Played for Italy U20 in every game in the 2012 and 2013 Six Nations tournaments, skippering the team against Ireland last March Has still only played nine games of senior rugby scoring just one try against Leinster in November. Made his test debut on the right wing last week in Cardiff.

Key to the stats: In the blue box is the players’ total test record for his country (excluding Lions). Caps – total test caps, Starts – number of test starts, Rep – appearances as a replacement, SNU – substitute not used. The green box is the players’ record for his current club this season. PREM – Aviva Premiership, PRO12 – RaboDirect PRO12, Top14 – France Top14. HC – Heineken Cup, ACC – Amlin Challenge Cup.

Follow @AccentureRugby on Twitter for all the latest stats and analysis

Compiled by