Northampton Saints incoming prop Danilo Fischetti has been selected by Italy to start against World Champions South Africa this weekend.
The 27-year-old – who has signed on with Northampton ahead of the 2025/26 season – wears the No. 1 shirt on the occasion of his 54th cap in Saturday’s Test match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (kick-off: 4.15pm UK time).
Italy face the Springboks twice in as many weeks with the second clash coming on Saturday 12 June at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Italy side to face South Africa
Saturday 5 July, 2025
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 4.10pm (BST)
15 Jacopo Trulla (Zebre Parma, 15 caps)
14 Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
13 Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)
12 Marco Zanon (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)
11 Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma, 4 caps)
10 Giacomo Da Re (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)
9 Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 19 caps)
1 Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints, 53 caps)
2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
3 Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby, 64 caps)
4 Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 53 caps) – capitano
5 Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
6 Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
7 Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)
8 Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)
Replacements:
16 Pablo Dimcheff (Colomiers Rugby, esordiente)
17 Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)
18 Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
19 Matteo Canali (Zebre Parma, esordiente)
20 Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps)
21 David Odiase (Zebre Parma, esordiente)
22 Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
23 Giulio Bertaccini (Zebre Parma, 2 caps)
