The Italy rugby coach Nick Mallett has hinted at a key playmaking role for newcomer Craig Gower on his team's three-Test rugby tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Mallett called up the former Australian rugby league Test halfback for the first time for matches against Australia on Saturday week in Canberra and June 20th in Melbourne, and the All Blacks on June 27th in Christchurch.
The former Springbok coach says the choice of Gower makes a lot of sense as he's a very physical player and an excellent tackler who loves to run the ball, attack the line and get the team playing.
The 31-year-old Gower has been playing at five eighth for French club Bayonne, and qualifies for Italy through an Italian grandfather.
Italy squad: Matias Aguero, Mauro Bergamasco, Mirco Bergamasco, Marco Bortolami, Kristopher Burton, Gonzalo Canale, Pablo Canavasio, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Paul Derbyshire, Simone Favaro, Gonzalo Garcia, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Craig Gower, Luke McLean, Jean-Francois Montauriol, Sergio Parisse (capt), Gilberto Pavan, Salvatore Perugini, Matteo Pratichetti, Roberto Quartaroli, Tommaso Reato, Kaine Robertson, Ignacio Rouyet, Giulio Rubini, Franco Sbaraglini, Fabio Staibano, Tito Tebaldi, Giulio Toniolatti, Alessandro Zanni.
