Italy have called up Glasgow flanker Simone Favaro to their World Cup squad for injured winger Angelo Esposito.
Esposito, 22, picked up a partial left-shoulder dislocation early in Italy’s record 48-7 defeat to Scotland in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up at Murrayfield.
Italy head coach Jacques Brunel has decided against going for an orthodox straight replacement, instead adding a sixth back-row forward to Italy’s 31-man squad.
The decision leaves the Azzurri with 18 forwards and 13 backs featuring only two specialist wingers. Favaro, 26, had previously been taken out of the side in July due to concerns over a shoulder injury.
Brunel said: “Simone has followed a recovery protocol with his club and, in the first two friendly’s of the season with Glasgow, has been shown to fully recovered from the shoulder problems.”
Italy play France at Twickenham on September 19 before further World Cup Pool D matches with Ireland, Canada and Romania.
LUKE JARMYN