Benetton’s Australian-born wing Montanna Ioane has been selected to make his debut for Italy against Wales in the Autumn Nations Cup playoffs in Llanelli.

The 26-year-old ‘Monty’ Ioane, born in Melbourne and nephew of former Wallabies back Digby Ioane, qualified for the Azzurri this month on the three-year residency rule.

Also, Italy have handed teenage halfback Stephen Varney a start against the country of his birth.

The 19-year-old, who plays for Gloucester and was born in Carmarthen, qualifies for Italy through his mother and has won two caps after coming through Italy’s junior teams.

He comes in for Marcello Violi and reprises his halfback partnership with 20-year-old flyhalf Paolo Garbisi, another promising graduate of the Italian under-20 side.