Italy set off for Romania, Japan

John Kirwan, the Italian coach, has chosen two new players for his squad to tour, playing first Romania in Bucharest on 26 June, then Japan A in Osaka on 30 June and then Japan in Tokyo on 4 July. Great scrumhalf, capped 83 times for Italy, Alessandro Troncon, who missed most of the Six Nations, is back to lead his team.

Paul Griffin, the hairy scrumhalf from Canterbury, took Trocon's place with great energy and distinction during the Six Nations. He is on the bench for Saturday.

The flyhalf for the Six Nations, who was Italy's highest points' scorer, Roland de Marigny, is out because of a broken third finger on his right hand. He is replaced by Rima Wakarua. Also unable to make the tour are Santiago Dellapè, Simon Picone, Gianluca Faliva and Lance Persico, They are replaced by Antonio Pavanello, Mario Savi, Giovanni Raineri and David Dal Maso.

Prop Martin Castrogiovanni is on the tour but will not be able to play till the Japan leg because of bruising. Hooker Fabio Ongaro who has some ligament strain in a knee, is expected to be able to play against Romania.

There are two new players in the squad - prop Salvatore Costanzo of Benetton Treviso and wing Kaine Robertson of Arix Viadana.

In addition there are three for the squad to play Romania who are uncapped - hooker Giorgio Intoppa (Ghial Calvisano), prop Mario Savi (Arix Viadana) and loose forward Antonio Pavanello (ARD Rovigo).

Incidentally the Pavenellos are not related in any way.

Tim Lane, formerly the coach of Montferrand and the Cats and the assistant coach of the Springboks, has joined the tour as an assistant to John Kirwan.

The team met at the Park Hotel La Borghesiana in Rome and were visited by the president of the Italian Rugby Federation Giancarlo Dondi before leaving for Bucharest on Thursday.

The full touring party of 30 players: Matteo Barbini (Safilo Petrarca), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Français), Marco Bortolami (Safilo Petrarca), Gonzalo Canale (Benetton Treviso), Danilo Carpente (Conad L'Aquila), Martin Castrogiovanni (Ghial Calvisano), Salvatore Costanzo (Benetton Treviso), David Dal Maso (ARD Rovigo), Roland De Marigny (Overmach Parma), Andrea De Rossi (Ghial Calvisano), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (Overmach Parma), Paul Griffen (Ghial Calvisano), Giorgio Intoppa (Ghial Calvisano), Andrea Lo Cicero (Lazio & Primavera), Roberto Mandelli (Ghial Calvisano), Andrea Masi (Arix Viadana), Francesco Mazzariol (Skg GrAN Rugby), Nicola Mazzucato (Ghial Calvisano), Michele Nitoglia (Lazio & Primavera), Fabio Ongaro (Benetton Treviso), Silvio Orlando (Benetton Treviso), Scott Palmer (Benetton Treviso), Antonio Pavanello (ARD Rovigo), Enrico Pavanello (Benetton Treviso), Aaron Persico (Agen), Walter Pozzebon (Benetton Treviso), Giovanni Raineri (Ghial Calvisano), Kaine Robertson (Arix Viadana), Mario Savi (Arix Viadana), Alessandro Troncon (Benetton Treviso).