Ireland v Italy: Italian player profiles

15 Luca Sperandio

Club: Benetton

Age: 22

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 93kg (14st 9lbs)

Former Wales prop Gethin Jenkins to retire from rugby

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Gerry Thornley: Mix of youth and experience the order for Schmidt

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Hartley closing in on a century of caps for England

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Luke McGrath and Joey Carbery set to start for Ireland in Chicago

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Caps: 2

A wing by inclination, he possesses the speed and agility that goes with that position and while a novice at international level he comes with a great deal of expectation and excitement.

14 Mattia Bellini

Club: Zebre

Age: 24

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 93kg (14st 9lbs)

Caps: 14

He scored two tries during last season's Six Nations Championship against England and Wales and has worked hard to improve in a defensive capacity.

13 Michele Campagnaro (capt)

Club: Exeter Chiefs

Age: 25

Height: 6'

Weight: 94kg (14st 11lbs)

Caps: 34

After a stellar first season in international rugby in 2014 in which he excelled in the Six Nations, his career both at club and test level has been hampered by injury; no doubting his ability though.

12 Luca Morisi

Club: Benetton

Age: 27

Height: 6'

Weight: 95kg (14st 13lbs)

Caps: 16

He returns to the team after a three year absence and will be keen to take this opportunity to press his claims as Conor O’Shea looks to find a creative midfield axis.

11 Giulio Bisegni

Club: Zebre

Age: 26

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 92kg (14st 7lbs)

Caps: 10

He became the first ever recipient of the Pro14 Ironman award for the player who racked up the most minutes (1504) in the league last season, highlighting his durability and consistency of performance.

10 Carlo Canna

Club: Zebre

Age: 26

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 93kg (14st 9lbs)

Caps: 29

He has scored 116 points for Italy to date and can play fullback, centre or outhalf with the latter his preferred position. The Zebre playmaker is disputing the number 10 jersey with Tommaso Allan.

9 Tito Tebaldi

Club: Benetton

Age: 31

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 89kg (14st 1lb)

Caps: 25

The much-travelled scrumhalf who has played for several clubs including Ospreys and Harlequins made his international debut in 2009 and has been in and out of the test team ever since. He is physically strong and a threat on the fringes.

1 Nicola Quaglio

Club: Benetton

Age: 27

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 111kg (17st 6lbs)

Caps: 7

Having spent seven years at Rovigo, his move to Benetton in 2016 coincided with his first cap for the national side that season. He has been handed a rare start in Chicago.

2 Luca Bigi

Club: Benetton

Age: 27

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 97kg (15st 3lbs)

Caps: 11

A tough, mobile hooker with a knack of scoring tries at club level, he is vying to be first choice hooker with veteran Leonardo Ghiraldini.

3 Tiziano Pasquali

Club: Benetton

Age: 24

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 117kg (18st 5lbs)

Caps: 9

The English-born and educated prop was part of the Leicester Tigers academy before moving to and declaring for Italy and was the backup tighthead during last season’s Six Nations.

4 Marco Fuser

Club: Benetton

Age: 27

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 116kg (18st 3lbs)

Caps: 29

After a slow start to his international career in 2012 and playing for just one minute in the 2015 Rugby World Cup he has played 11 out of the last 12 internationals for Italy.

5 George Biagi

Club: Zebre

Age: 33

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 115kg (18st 1lb)

Caps: 22

He was born in Irvine, Scotland and was educated in Edinburgh but studied at third level in Milan before declaring for the country of his Italian mother.

6 Johan Meyer

Club: Zebre

Age: 25

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 104kg (16st 5lbs)

Caps: 0

The South African-born player is making his debut having qualified under the three year residency rule. He is a strong physical presence on both sides of the ball.

7 Abraham Steyn

Club: Benetton

Age: 26

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 110kg (17st 4lbs)

Caps: 21

The former South Africa under-20 international has played secondrow, flanker and number eight for the Italian side since making his debut in 2016.

8 Renato Giammarioli

Club: Zebre

Age: 23

Height: 6'

Weight: 102kg (16st 1lb)

Caps: 2

Strong and athletic, he is a young player of whom good things are expected based on his pedigree at underage international level and he returns to the position he played at that age-grade having spent more time as an openside flanker at senior level.