Louis Lynagh, the son of former Australia flyhalf Michael, will make his debut for Italy in their Six Nations meeting with Scotland this weekend after head coach Gonzalo Quesada named the wing in his team on Thursday.
Lynagh was born in Italy and has played at Under-20 level for England where he grew up. He will play his club rugby at Benetton in Italy next season, with his signing from Harlequins confirmed last month.
With Lynagh in at wing, Tommaso Menoncello moves back to centre alongside Ignacio Brex, with Federico Mori dropping to the bench.
Sebastian Negri returns to the side after the flanker missed the last two games through injury, replacing Riccardo Favretto. Prop Simone Ferrari comes in for Giosue Zilocchi in the only other change from last month's draw against France.
The Italian squad to defend the Stadio Olimpico against Scotland! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uLpJjCC2aB
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 7, 2024
Ross Vintcent, who made his first start in the last game against France, keeps his place at number eight, and Martin Page-Relo is again preferred at scrumhalf, with Stephen Varney named on the bench.
Saturday's game at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome is a sell-out, with 69,869 tickets sold for Italy's final home game of this year's Six Nations.
Scotland are the team Italy have defeated most in their Six Nations history, but the most recent of those seven wins came in 2015 in Murrayfield, and their last win in Rome over the Scots dates back to 2012.
Italy are bottom of the standings after two defeats and a draw, level on three points with Wales, while Scotland are second on nine points, six behind leaders Ireland after wins over Wales and England and defeat to France.
Italy team: 15-Ange Capuozzo, 14-Louis Lynagh, 13-Ignacio Brex, 12-Tommaso Menoncello, 11-Monty Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Martin Page-Relo, 8-Ross Vintcent, 7-Michele Lamaro, 6-Sebastian Negri , 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Niccolo Cannone, 3-Simone Ferrari, 2-Giacomo Nicotera, 1-Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17-Mirco Spagnolo, 18-Giosue Zilocchi, 19-Andrea Zambonin, 20-Lorenzo Cannone, 21-Stephen Varney, 22-Leonardo Marin, 23-Federico Mori.