Big test for Italians

Italy coach John Kirwan will find out in Edinburgh on Saturday whether his intensive World Cup preparations are likely to pay worthwhile dividends.

Kirwan has named a strong lineup for the match against Scotland at Murrayfield which he considers an timely litmus test ahead of the big event which gets under way Down Under on October 10.

“The match against Scotland is an ideal test for the physical work we have done up to now,” the former All Black winger told a press conference in Genoa on Thursday.

“But most of all it will help me evaluate the efficiency of our defence and attack.”

Italy will next play friendlies against Ireland at Thomond Park, Limerick on August 30, and host Georgia a week later before heading for Australia.

Italy team to play Scotland: G Peens; N Mazzucato, A Masi, C Stoica, Mirco Bergamasco; R Pez, A Troncon (capt); M Phillips, S Palmer, M Zaffiri, M Bortolami, S Dellape, S Perugini, C Festuccia, A Lo Cicero.

Replacements: F Ongaro, R Martinez, S Parisse, Mauro Bergamasco, M Queirolo, F Mazzariol, G Canale.