Northampton Saints duo Malik Faissal and Danilo Fischetti have been named in Italy’s starting XV to face New Zealand this Saturday (11 July, kick-off: 6.10am).
The clash marks Italy’s second in this term’s Nations Championship, following their 27-10 loss to Japan in the opening round of the tournament.
Faissal prepares for his second senior cap, after making his debut a week ago, and starts on Italy’s wing in Wellington – while Fischetti is set for a 65th cap against the All Blacks.
ITALY SQUAD TO FACE NEW ZEALAND
Nations Championship, Round 2
Saturday 11 July, 2026
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 6.10am
15 Tommaso Allan (Zebre Parma, 90 caps)
14 Malik Faissal (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
13 Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon, 53 caps)
12 Tommaso Menoncello (Stade Toulousain, 40 caps)
11 Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)
10 Paolo Garbisi (Toulon, 55 caps)
9 Stephen Varney (Exeter Chiefs, 38 caps)
1 Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints, 64 caps)
2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma, 11 caps)
3 Marco Riccioni (Perpignan, 37 caps)
4 Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 64 caps)
5 Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs, 19 caps)
6 Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs, 20 caps)
7 Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby, 55 caps) – captain
8 Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 39 caps)
Replacements:
16 Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon, 34 caps)
17 Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
18 Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Parma, 9 caps)
19 Giulio Marini (Benetton Rugby, debutant)
20 Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 72 caps)
21 Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)
22 Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)
23 Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)