Back in then the 22-man squad to face France in Rome, on March 3, are Diego Dominguez and Alessandro Troncon, alongside Massimiliano Perziano who won his first and only cap for Italy, last November against the All Blacks, Aaron Persico, and Manuel Dallan, who was dropped after Italy lost to Canada 17-22 three months ago.

Out are fly-half Ramiro Pez, back row forward Andrea De Rossi and centre Marco Rivaro, while Nanni Raineri who, last Saturday, made an unimpressive move from centre to stand off, and scrum-half Matteo Mazzantini, who was on the bench in Twickenham, are demoted to Italy A.

Also missing is prop Andrea Muraro who suffered a knee injury against England and had to leave the field before the end of the game. In his place, Johnstone has recalled Franchino Properzi Curti, 35, who won his last cap against New Zealand in 1999.

The full squad is Mauro Bergamasco, Carlo Checchinato, Denis Dallan, Manuel Dallan, Andrea Gritti, Franchino Properzi Curti, Alessandro Moscardi,Walter Pozzebon, Vim Visser, Massimiliano Perziano (Benetton Treviso); Carlo Caione, Giampiero De Carli, Andrea Lo Cicero, Andrea Scanavacca ( Roma); Juan Manuel Queirolo, Aaron Persico ( Viadana); David Dal Maso ( Rovigo); Tino Paoletti (La Rochelle); Alessandro Stoica (Narbonne); Luca Martin (Northampton); Alessandro Troncon (Montferrand), Diego Dominguez (Stade Francais).