Star fullback Ange Capuozzo makes his return to Italy’s starting XV to play Ireland in the second round of the Six Nations in Dublin on Saturday.

Capuozzo, ruled out of the 27-24 defeat by England last week through illness, starts with  Tommaso Allan — a try scorer against the English — falling to the bench.

Stephen Varney is named at half-back alongside Paolo Garbisi, with cover offered by Martin Page-Relo.

Michele Lamaro skippers the team from No 8, with Manuel Zuliani and Alessandro Izekor the starting flankers in the absence of injured Sebastian Negri (ribs) and Lorenzo Cannone (leg).

Lorenzo Pani gets another start on the right wing as does Monty Ioane on the left outside the retained midfield partnership of Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello.

The front five, comprising locks Federico Ruzza and Niccolo Cannone, and front row forwards Pietro Ceccarelli, Gianmarco Lucchesi and Danilo Fischetti, is unchanged from the England game.

South Africa-born Exeter No 8 Ross Vintcent is in line to win his first cap after being named on the bench.

Photo: Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP