Di Bernardo to make debut in SA test@ 33 years old (Ha Ha!)

Alberto Di Bernardo has become the latest in a long line of flyhalves entrusted with Italy's number 10 jersey after the 33-year-old was handed his debut for the test against South Africa in Durban on Saturday.

The Treviso player excelled in the Celtic League last term and replaces fellow Argentina-born Luciano Orquera, who drops to the bench having been the main flyhalf during Italy's strong Six Nations campaign in February and March when they beat France and Ireland.

Edoardo Gori continues at scrumhalf as he looks to make the spot his own in a mini-series also involving Samoa and Scotland.

Lock and former captain Marco Bortolami returns to the line-up after a year out following a shoulder injury.

ITALY TEAM:

15-Andrea Masi, 14-Giovanbattista Venditti, 13-Luca Morisi, 12-Alberto Sgarbi, 11-Luke Mclean, 10-Alberto Di Bernardo, 9-Edoardo Gori, 8-Sergio Parisse, 7-Robert Barbieri, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 5-Marco Bortolami, 4-Antonio Pavanello, 3-Lorenzo Cittadini, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1-Alberto De Marchi

Replacements:

16-Davide Giazzon, 17-Matias Aguero, 18-Martin Castrogiovanni, 19-Valerio Bernabo, 20-Joshua Furno, 21-Tobias Botes, 22-Luciano Orquera, 23-Tommaso Iannone.

Is this some type of joke? 

What is the rebuilding phase for the 2015 WorldCup?

 I like this di Panado er Bernardo already. Who said fresh talent has to be underbaked. Advantage Italy.

Debut at 33 years of age - that really means that Italy is running out of flyhalves.   Must be pretty desperate to do that.   If a guy is that old and has to make his debut appearance, he must be overbaked and ready to be discarded soon.

Watch out for Robert Barbieri and Sergio Parisse as well.  They have two of Meyer's worst choices opposing them - Spies and Alberts.  It would be intresting to see who is better in that category - and I think Italy has a distinct advantage in this case.