Six Nations : Dominguez returns for Italy

Diego Dominguez has been named in Italy's team to play Ireland in the Six Nations opener in Rome on Saturday.

The fly-half's selection marks an end to his international exile.

Dominguez was persuaded by coach Brad Johnstone to reverse his decision, made at the end of last year's championship, to retire from the national team.

He will renew his half-back partnership with former captain Alessandro Troncon.

Argentinian-born Dominguez, who has amassed a record 819 points for his adopted country, will collect his 62nd cap at the Flaminio Stadium.

The team will be led by hooker Alessandro Moscardi, one of six Treviso players in the starting line-up.

Team: A Stoica (Narbonne); C Pilat (Treviso), L Martin (Northampton), GRaineri (Roma), D Dallan (Treviso); D Dominguez (Stade Francais), A Troncon (Montferrand); A Lo Cicero (Roma), A Moscardi (Treviso, capt), A Muraro (Padova), W Visser (Treviso), C Checchinato (Treviso), C Caione (Roma), M Bergamasco (Treviso), D Dal Maso (Rovigo).

Replacements: G De Carli (Roma), C Paoletti (La Rochelle), G Lanzi (Calvisano), A Persico (Viadana), F Frati (Parma), G Pozzebon (Treviso), E Gallan (Bourgoin).