Italy have named their Rugby World Cup squad, including exciting wingers Monty Ioane and Paolo Odogwu for their first appearances at the finals, and also selecting Tommaso Allan for his third campaign.
Crowley said he would have liked to be involved with the Italy team for the next World Cup cycle as well.
Gatland’s team ended a run of three successive defeats in this season’s tournament.
The Italy head coach has asked his players to play with ambition and verve and they line-up against Wales as slight favourites
Italy boss Kieran Crowley has named his team for this Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations opener at home to France, an XV that shows two changes from the team beaten 21-62 in their last match in November versus South Africa.
The Azzurri’s last win in the tournament was against Scotland in 2015.
Italy have made three changes for this Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations match at home to England following last Sunday’s 37-10 loss to France in Paris.
Things haven't worked out recently for Kieran Crowley at Benetton and a series of losses have forced the Italian club's bosses to act.