20 Year Old Italian Flyhalf Handed A Starting Debut Against Ireland
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20-year-old Benetton flyhalf Paolo Garbisi will make his test debut against Ireland on Saturday 24 October at Aviva Stadium.
The former u20 international has been a standout for Benetton in recent fixtures enjoying a particularly good game against Ulster earlier this month where he scored a try and slotted three penalties and a conversion to complete a 14 point haul.
Garbisi's club mate Gianmarco Lucchesi is also set to make his test debut via the bench as too is Calvisano back Federico Mori. Franco Smith's youthful side has an average age of 25.6 and will be captained by hooker Luca Bigi.
Fullback Jayden Hayward is the only member of the squad over the age of 30 and he is flanked by Mattia Bellini and Edoardo Padovani out wide. Carlo Canna continues at inside centre alongside Luca Morisi with Marcello Violi pairing up with Garbisi in the halfbacks.
Sebastian Negri, Braam Steyn and Jake Pollerdi form an intimidating back row with the Benetton pair of Marco Lazzaroni and Niccolo Cannone make up the second row. Zebre provide the starting front rower with Giosue Zilocchi and Danilo Fischetti starting either side of captain Luca Bigi.
Full starting XV: