Italy start their RBS 6 Nations campaign on February 15 against world champions England and Kiwi Kirwan is pleased with the progress his players, particularly the newcomers to the senior set-up, have made.
Kirwan singled out Parma fly-half Roland de Marigny, who joins hooker Giorgio Intoppa, loose-forward Roberto Mandelli, and scrum-halves Simon Picone, Pietro Travagli and Paul Griffen as the uncapped members of the squad.
"I'm satisfied with what I saw," said Kirwan. "I supervised the group and I saw lots of enthusiasm.
"Roland De Marigny, for example, is a serious professional. He has come to us with a great enthusiasm and now he must keep that going."
