Italy's rugby team left Wednesday for a summer tour of Australia and New Zealand in which coach Nick Mallett aims to test new blood after its worst Six Nations ever.
The Azzurri will play Australia on June 13 in Canberra and June 20 in Melbourne before meeting the All Blacks in Christchurch on June 27.
Playing Australia may be the boost the squad needs given fond memories of their last encounter in Padua in November, when Italy led until an Australian try ten minutes from time.
Mallett's place as coach looked at risk after Italy racked up its worst points difference in its ten years in the Six Nations, failing to win a match.
But selectors have put their faith in him to forge a new generation capable of again holding its own against the best in the Northern Hemisphere.
''We have to re-found our squad, find 20-30 players up to the tasks facing us,'' veteran ex-skipper Marco Bortolami told reporters before the team boarded their plane.
Current captain Sergio Parisse said: ''The tour is a good chance to try out youngsters, and a great chance for them too, obviously''.
In a last-minute replacement, Benetton Treviso's young centre Alberto Sgarbi came in for Overmarch Cariparma's Gilberto Pavan who tore a knee ligament in final training.
