By Matt Findlay

Progressing from pool D will be no mean feat for the Italians, grouped with both Ireland and France, and that’s not lost on head coach Jacques Brunel, leading to him select an experienced squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC).

Brunel has named Sergio Parisse – arguably one of the best No.8s to ever play the game – to lead the 31-strong squad, which boasts over 1000 international caps between them.

In term of experienced players outside Parisse, veteran prop Martin Castrogiovanni joins 92-cap centre Andrea Masi in competing at a fourth RWC, while flanker Mauro Bergamasco will match Brian Lima’s record of appearing in a fifth tournament.

But, experience will count for little if the Italians can’t execute and, potentially tellingly, they have no time to warm-up as they face France in a must-win clash to open their campaign.

“We’re conscious it won’t be easy to progress through the pool phase, as France and Ireland are both above us in the world rankings,” Brunel said.

“We must keep in mind we defeated both of them in the 2013 Six Nations. At the same time, we can’t underestimate Canada and Romania, two sound teams that will certainly do their best to achieve a positive result against a team above them in the ranking during the tournament.

“Our ambition is to advance to the Rugby World Cup knockout stages, a goal Italy hasn’t reached in the past editions, and our decisions and our energies are driven with this final target in mind.”

The Italians take on Canada after the French, and finish the pool stage with games against Ireland and Romania.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Mauro Bergamasco (flanker)

The feel good story of England 2015, Bergamasco will play in his fifth tournament in the RWC and will retire at its completion.

So, it’s easy to see why the Italians will be desperate to send him off with the nation’s first quarter-final berth.

None in the Italian squad will be as motivated as Bergamasco himself, whose fearless back-row play has made him a legend in not just Italian rugby, but worldwide too.

Look for the veteran to have a huge tournament, whether it finishes in the pool stage or not, particularly in Italy’s opening game against France should he start.

SQUAD

Forwards: Matias Aguero, Martin Castrogiovanni, Dario Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Michele Rizzo, Loenardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Manici, Valerio Bernabo, Josh Furno, Marco Fuser, Quintin Geldenhuys, Mauro Bergamasco, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse (captain), Samuela Vunisa, Alessandro Zanni,

Backs: Edoardo Gori, Guglielmo Palazzani, Marcello Violi, Tommaso Allan, Carlo Canna, Tommaso Benvenuti, Michele Campagnaro, Angelo Esposito, Gonzalo Garcia, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luca Morisi, Leonardo Sarto, Giovanbattista Venditti.

FIXTURES

Saturday, September 19: vs France; Twickenham, London; 8pm

Saturday, September 26: vs Canada; Elland Road, Leeds; 2.30pm

Sunday, October 4: vs Ireland; The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London; 4.45pm

Sunday, October 11: vs Romania; Sandy Park, Exeter; 2.30pm