Mallett enlists uncapped No.8 for Italy squad

Italy coach Nick Mallett has named uncapped Jacobus Erasmus in his 22-man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations game against France in Paris on March 9.

The Montepaschi Viadana number eight will begin training with the Azzurri on March 2 in Rome.

The Italians are still without injured duo David Bortolussi and Pablo Canavosio but welcome back New Zealand-born winger Kaine Robertson, who missed last weekend’s 47-8 defeat against Wales in Cardiff through injury.

Italy will be looking for their first win in the tournament when they travel to the Stade de France.

Mallett has left Mauro Bergamasco and Carlo Antonio del Fava out of the squad as a precaution with both players attending a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday.

Italy squad:

Backs: Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), G Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), E Galon (Overmach Cariparma), A Masi (Biarritz), K Robertson (Arix Viadana), A Marcato (Treviso), S Picone (Treviso), A Sgarbi (Treviso), E Patrizio (Petrarca Padova), J Erasmus (Montepaschi Viadana), A Galante (Rolly Gran Parma).

Forwards: M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), L Ghiraldini (Calvisano), A Lo Cicero (Racing Metro Paris), S Parisse (Stade Francais), F Ongaro (Saracens), S Perugini (Toulouse), J Sole (Arix Viadana), A Zanni (Calvisano), M Bortolami (Gloucester), C Nieto (Gloucester), P Travagli (Overmach Cariparma).