Former Australia rugby league international Craig Gower was selected to play his first rugby union Test for Italy against the Wallabies in Canberra on Saturday.

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Gower quit rugby league two years ago to play club rugby in France and qualified to play for Italy through his Italian-born grandfather.

He was one of two Australian-born players selected by Italy coach Nick Mallett for the match, joining fullback Luke McLean, who will earn his ninth cap.

Team: 15-Luke McLean, 14-Kaine Robertson, 13-Mirco Bergamasco, 12-Matteo Pratichetti, 11-Alberto Sgarbi, 10-Craig Gower, 9-Pablo Canavosio; 8-Sergio Parisse (captain), 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 5-Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 3-Fabio Staibano, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1-Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: 16-Franco Sbaraglini, 17-Ignacio Rouyet, 18-Marco Bortolami, 19-Paul Derbyshire, 20-Tito Tebaldi, 21-Kristopher Burton, 22-Gonzalo Garcia.