Recall for Allan but no room for Varney

TOMMASO Allan returns from a break and Harlequins lock Dino Lamb is back from injury in Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy squad, while former Gloucester scrum-half Stephen Varney misses out.

Varney, who has 30 Test caps, last week left Kingsholm to sign for French club RC Vannes. The 23-year-old Welsh-born half-back came through the ranks at Kingsholm but opportunities had been limited this season after the Cherry and Whites signed Wales star Tomos Williams.

Fly-half Allan stepped away from the Italy side during this year’s Six Nations championship to spend more time with his family, and also missed the summer series in July, but he has made himself available to Quesada.

Lamb receives his first call-up from Quesada, having earned his six caps under previous head coach Kieran Crowley last year, making three appearances at the World Cup, but injury kept him out of this year’s matches.

Return: Tommaso Allan

Quesada has named two uncapped players, hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo and centre

Giulio Bertaccini, in his 34-man squad for the matches against Argentina, Georgia and New Zealand, while former Bath full-back Matt Gallagher now at Benetton, who made his debut in July’s defeat to Samoa, is also included along with team-mate Louis Lynagh, the former Harlequins flyer.

“We have focused on a group of players who have shown a high level of performance at the moment where most of them know our principles and game mechanisms well,” Quesada said.

“We will face three different opponents in three challenges that have great charm. Argentina, back from the best Rugby Championship in its history, Georgia after the match we all remember in Batumi and we will close with New Zealand a year after the last challenge at the World Cup.”

Italy play Argentina on November 9 in Udine, Georgia in Genoa the week after and finish against the All Blacks in Turin on November 23.