South African Tobias Botes has been called up to the Italy squad for this weekend’s Six Nations opener against France in Paris following an injury to Luciano Orquera.

With Argentina-born Aironi fly-half Orquera ruled out with a hamstring problem, scrum-half Botes has been given his opportunity.

Botes is the first choice number nine at Treviso, ahead of Italy pair Fabio Semenzato and Eduardo Gori, but he has the versatility to also play at fly-half and even on the wing.

Having spent four years playing in Italy he is now eligible for the national team and although he is currently keeping both Semenzato and Gori out of the starting line-up at club level, he had been overlooked on the international stage – until now.