Alessandro Troncon, scrum-half 1994-2007
Italy: 101 caps, 94 points
The first Italian to win 100 caps, the scrum-half is still his country's record appearance-maker.
A fine distributor and feisty competitor, Troncon always had an eye for the quick break and launched countless attacks around the scrum.
Probably Italy's best ever player, he formed a notable half-back partnership with fly-half Diego Dominguez, the pair making more than 50 appearances for the Azzurri together.
He captained Italy to the 2003 World Cup but his finest hour probably arrived towards the end of his illustrious career.
Troncon was named man-of-the-match for his try-scoring peformance in Italy's first overseas victory at Murrayfield against Scotland in the 2007 Six Nations.
Diego Dominguez, fly-half 1991-2003
Italy: 74 caps, 983 points
Dominguez won two caps for his native Argentina before switching allegiance to the Azzurri, qualifying through an Italian grandmother.
He played in three World Cups and was the lynchpin of the Italian side for more than a decade.
A superb kicker, Dominguez frequently kept a very ordinary Italian side competitive with his accuracy off the tee.
Despite being often starved of quality possession, Dominguez was also a quality ball-player and never allowed adversity to affect his individual game.
Inevitably, he enjoyed his most success at club level in France, helping Stade Francais to the national championship in 1998 and the Heineken Cup final in 2000, where he scored 30 points against Leicester but still ended up on the losing side.
Massimo Cuttitta, prop 1990-2000
Italy: 69 caps, 29 points
Cuttitta captained Italy 16 times, including leading his national side to the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
The tighthead was an excellent exponent of the art of scrummaging and led the Italian pack with bravery and passion. He has since become an admired scrum and forwards coach.
Although he did not enjoy a great deal of success with Italy, he had a long and diverse club career that took in stints at Harlequins and Edinburgh.
His twin brother Marcello won 54 caps on the wing between 1987 and 1999.
Andrea lo Cicero, prop 2000-
Italy: 78 caps, 35 points
Lo Cicero continues to enjoy an impressive career in the blue shirt and has been the rock on which the Italian scrum has thrived for more than a decade.
A powerful scrummager and effective in the loose, Lo Cicero has claims on being Italy's best-ever forward. That accolade may well be his for certain when he finally hangs up his boots.
Best moment for Italy came when he won his 50th cap in the historic Six Nations victory at Murrayfield in 1997.
Currently enjoying a successful stint with Metro Racing in Paris.
Paolo Vaccari, utility back 1991-2003
Italy: 64 caps, 107 points
A versatile back equally adept at wing, centre or full-back, Vaccari scored 22 tries for his country in a 64-cap career.
An intelligent and technically-sound back, he frequently created scoring oportunities for players around him.
He was also a strong defender and a useful handler of the ball, although a relative lack of pace occassionally proved his shortcoming.
Played all his domestic rugby in his native country and won the Italian double once with Milan and twice with Calvisano
