New Zealand-born Halafihi to make Italy debut in France Six Nations opener – The42

FORMER HURRICANES BACK-ROWER Toa Halafihi will make his Italy debut in this weekends Six Nations trip to France.

Halafihi, 28, qualifies for the Azzurri on residency grounds after joining Treviso in 2018.

The number eight, originally from Gisborne on New Zealands north island, benefits from injuries to the likes of Jake Polledri and Johan Meyer as well as Sergio Parisses potential return later in the tournament.

His club team-mate and winger Tommaso Menoncello is another uncapped player named in Kieran Crowleys starting lineup for Sundays fixture.

Here is the @federugby squad that will challenge @FranceRugby at the Stade de France this Sunday. #FRAvITA #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/FQ204nUwMl

Two further Treviso squad members in 21-year-old flanker Manuel Zuliani and teenage fly-half Leonardo Marin are set to win their first caps from the bench.

The work done in these weeks of preparation, towards the start of the Six Nations, has been intense and of quality, Crowley said.

There is a lot of energy in the group and awareness of taking the field in one of the most important tournaments in the world of rugby and sport.

Earlier on Friday, France head coach Fabien Galthie told AFP he had tested positive for Covid-19 and team manager Raphael Ibanez will take hands on charge of the team for the game in Paris.

15. Edoardo Padovani

14. Tommaso Menoncello

13. Juan Ignacio Brex

12. Marco Zanon

11. Monty Ioane

10. Paolo Garbisi

9. Stephen Varney

1.Danilo Fischetti

2. Gianmarco Lucchesi

3. Tiziano Pasquali

4. Niccolo Cannone

5. Federico Ruzza

6. Sebastian Negri

7. Michele Lamaro (captain)

8. Toa Halafihi

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Replacements:

16. Epalahame Faiva

17. Ivan Nemer

18. Giosue Zilocchi

19. Marco Fuser

20. Giovanni Pettinelli

21. Manuel Zuliani

22. Callum Braley

23. Leonardo Marin

AFP 2022

Source: The42 Rugby Weekly/SoundCloud

Bernard Jackman, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey discuss Irelands 23 to face Wales, look ahead to the Six Nations generally, and give their thoughts on Malakai Fekitoas move from Wasps to Munster.

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New Zealand-born Halafihi to make Italy debut in France Six Nations opener - The42