Simone Favaro rewarded with first start for Warriors

Simone Favaro has earned a first start after a try last week. Picture: SNS Group

The former Treviso player knows openside is one of many hotly-contested positions at the Guinness Pro12 champions but is hopeful a big showing at Leinster tonight will boost his chances of getting regular starts.

The 28-year-old, who featured for the Azzurri at the World Cup, said: “I decided to come here and I’m confident about myself. This is the way to be the best, to have a lot of competition in all the positions. I have to give 100 per cent. I love competition. This will be my time to try and keep the No 7 shirt.”

Favaro was not in Italy’s initial World Cup squad and featured for Glasgow in pre-season before being called up by coach Jacques Brunel as injury cover.

He has settled into his new home well and added: “I love it here. I find the city to be full of very friendly people and at the club I feel like I am part of a family. I really want to discover Scotland. I have arrived in a really good structure. The club has stuck to the Scottish way and it is so friendly but we perform well during the training and hopefully the matches too.”

One thing he is not looking to change too much is his eating habits. “I love Scotland but there are some things that I can’t change about my lifestyle and Italian food is part of that,” he said. “I suggest to you Bella Vita in the southside. It’s really, really good food the Italian way.”