Rugby, Italy renewed and favoured against a rising Chile
The third and final commitment of the autumn gives coach Quesada the opportunity to use almost all the elements of the squad, giving space to those who have played less so far (or not played at all)
"As soon as we heard that Samoa could not play against us, as they were still committed to the World Cup qualification (which they achieved with great difficulty last Tuesday, thanks to a 13-13 draw with Belgium, ed), we pushed to face Chile, because they deserved it. For them it will be a historic match: in their first tour of Europe they can meet a top team. I don't deny, of course, that we are favourites, but I know their characteristics well: I told the boys to expect, in the first 20 minutes, a 'war' as only South American teams know how to do".
Words of Gonzalo Quesada, Argentina's Italy coach, in view of tomorrow's test match at the 'Ferraris' stadium in Genoa. The Azzurri - after a brilliant victory against Australia in Udine and a defeat "that can teach a lot" (Quesada's own consideration) in Turin against the World Champion South Africa - change register in a certain way and find the odds all on their side. The third and final commitment of the autumn grants the opportunity to use almost all the elements of the squad, giving space to those who have played less so far (or not played at all) and who will be full of motivation.
In addition to captain Michele Lamaro, who was offside due to injury, there are - among others - wing three-quarter Mirko Belloni, centre Leonardo Marin, the midfield pair formed by opener Giacomo Da Re and Alessandro Garbisi, while at scrum-half Alessandro Izekor is on the third line plus hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo and prop Mohamed Hasa on the front line. And among the back-rowers there is an air of possible debut for the mighty second line Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, a Ghanaian from Portogruaro, and for the talented three-quarter Edoardo Todaro: two 19-year-olds who have put themselves in the spotlight with the National Under-20 team and are making a career in England.
"We are fielding a balanced team," says Quesada, "and at the same time we are using this match to expand the group, giving a reward to those who have worked well so far and found little space. Some will have the opportunity to show themselves and prove that they are at the right level to compete in their role".
The 'Condores' of Chile - the third strongest team in Latin America after Argentina and Uruguay - won their second participation in the World Cup by beating Samoa in a double-header: a 32-32 draw away and a clear victory (31-12) at home in front of more than 20,000 spectators. They are a very solid team in the scrum and with a good propensity to play. They have a very rare opportunity and they will try to use it to grow and show their progress. The fact is that from next year, with the introduction of a Nations Cup that 'armours' the various national teams even more in their brackets, certain exchanges between different levels will be practically prevented. With the result, among other things, that Italy will almost exclusively face teams stronger than it.
