Star wing Ange Capuozzo has returned to the Italy squad ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations match against Ireland.
The French-born 26-year-old has not played since the end of December when he injured a finger playing for Toulouse against La Rochelle in the Top 14.
He was left out of the Italy squad for their Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday which the home team won 18-15 at a drenched Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
In his place, Louis Lynagh, the son of Wallabies great Michael, scored one of Italy’s tries.
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Capuozzo has scored 16 tries in 31 Tests, putting him joint 10th on Italy’s all-time top try-scorer’s list, 10 behind Marcello Cuttitta’s all-time record set in the 1990s.
On the other hand, Argentina-born Toulon centre Juan Ignacio Brex, who won his 50th cap against the Scots and whose sublime grubber kick was touched down by Lynagh, is left out due to “family reasons”, Federugby said.
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Argentina head coach Gonzalo Quesada is still without a host of injured first-team regulars including scrumhalf Martin Page-Relo, flyhalf Tommaso Allan, loose forwards Sebastian Negri and Ross Vintcent, hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi and prop Marco Riccioni, as well as dazzling young wing Edoardo Todaro.
Italy are seeking only their second victory over Ireland in the Six Nations. Their one success, in 26 previous attempts in the competition, was a 22-15 win in Rome in 2013.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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