Key duo return for Azzurri

Italy will be boosted by the return of lock Marco Bortolami and centre Andrea Marcato for their RBS Six Nations game against Scotland in Edinburgh on February 28.

Both players missed last Sunday’s 38-9 defeat to Ireland in Rome through injury but have recovered and have been included in Mallett’s 24-man squad.

Their presence will be a blessing for Italy coach Nick Mallett, who could be without full-back Andrea Masi for the encounter at Murrayfield.

The Biarritz full-back was cited this week after a dangerous tackle on Ireland’s Rob Kearney saw him sin-binned inside the opening minute of the loss at the Stadio Flaminio.

Scrum-half Pablo Canavosio and hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini have also made the team after missing the Azzurri´s opening two defeats to England at Twickenham and against Ireland through injury, while Overmach Cariparma utility back Giulio Rubini has been handed his first call-up to the national team.

The Azzurri will return to training on Sunday in preparation for the game at Murrayfield.

Italy’s 24-man squad for their RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland in Edinburgh a week on Saturday:

Backs: Andrea Masi (Biarritz), Gonzale Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), Gonzalo Garcia (Calvisano), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais); Andrea Marcato (Benetton Treviso), Paul Griffen (Calvisano), Luke McLean (Calvisano), Andrea Bacchetti (Rovigo), Pablo Canavosio (Viadana), Matteo Pratichetti (Calvisano), Giulio Rubini (Overmach Cariparma)

Forwards: Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Marco Bortolami (Gloucester), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester), Carlo Antonio del Fava (Ulster), Santiago Dellape (Toulon), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Calvisano), Carlos Nieto (Gloucester), Fabio Ongaro (Saracens), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Salvatore Perugini (Stade Toulousain), Ignacio Rouyet (Viadana), Josh Sole (Viadana), Alessandro Zanni (Calvisano)