Outhalf Diego Dominguez and scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon will return to Italy's national team for the 2001 Six Nations campaign, Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) president Giancarlo Dondi said yesterday.

And Dondi also fuelled speculation that the future of Italy's coach, Brad Johnstone, might hinge on Saturday's match with Canada at Rovigo and the meeting with Romania at Benevento the week after.

Dominguez retired from international rugby after this year's Six Nations campaign, while Troncon - also Italy's captain - has been overlooked by Johnstone since he snubbed the summer tour of the South Pacific because of his commitments to his French club, Montferrand.

It is Johnstone, a former New Zealand prop, who has vetoed Troncon's participation in the three November Test matches with Canada, Romania and New Zealand against the wishes of Troncon, his teammates and Dondi himself.

Dondi said: "Johnstone has a lot at stake in these three Tests. I hope he is right in all this. Two victories against Canada and Romania will quieten down this mood."