Quote Originally Posted by gardibolt
Yeah, a first game would be better with vanilla to get the feet wet. If he likes that, then turn him on to RTR.

The Julii is pretty much what most people think of as the Romans, so that's probably the best way to go for a novice. The Brutii are a lot easier due to their cash-rich goals and the utterly ineffective defenses of the Greeks.
Personally, I wouldn´t consider Bruti easier than Julii for a complete beginner. The phalanxes they´ll be facing require a more coordinated approach on the battlefield than the Gaul units the Julii will face. Maybe it seems to many that Bruti are easier because they´ve finished a Julii campaign first (and have thus gathered some experience in the mechanics), as was the case with me.