Italy v Scotland: Veteran hooker, Welsh scrum-half and uncapped winger in home squad
Ghiraldini has been named on the bench for the Autumn Nations Cup opener at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
If the 35-year-old hooker plays, it will be his 105th appearance for Italy but his first since a serious knee injury against France in the 2019 Six Nations. He recovered to be picked for the Rugby World Cup in Japan a year ago, but a planned farewell appearance off the bench in Italy's last pool game against New Zealand was scrubbed when the match was cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis.
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Hide AdItaly coach Franco Smith has made two changes to the starting line-up from the 34-5 defeat to England which helped the visitors win the Six Nations. Smith hands a debut to Calvisano wing Jacopo Trulla and a second cap to centre Marco Zanon.
The uncapped Stephen Varney is on the bench. The Gloucester scrum-half was born in Wales but has an Italian mother and has come through Italy’s age-grade sides.
Full-back Matteo Minozzi starts after recovering from a broken nose suffered against England two weeks ago.
The match is live on Amazon Prime Video.
Italy team: Matteo Minozzi, Jacopo Trulla, Marco Zanon, Carlo Canna, Mattia Bellini, Paolo Garbisi, Marcello Violi; Danilo Fischetti, Luca Bigi (captain), Giosue Zilocchi, Marco Lazzaroni, Niccolo Cannone, Sebastian Negri, Braam Steyn, Jake Polledri.
Substititues: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Simone Ferrari, Pietro Ceccarelli, Johan Meyer, Maxime Mbanda, Stephen Varney, Tommaso Allan, Federico Mori.