Italy arrives in dispositions that it has perhaps never known. On an upward slope, thanks to a totally uninhibited young generation embodied by the opener of Montpellier Paolo Garbisi or the back of Toulouse Ange Capuozzo, the XV transalpine will start this World Cup with the intention of jostling France and New Zeeland. However, the task will not be easy, as the Blues are efficient and the All Blacks experienced.
The story
Present in all the final stages of the World Cup since 1987, Italy has never passed the group stage. In nine editions, they have even finished eight times in 3rd place, sometimes not far from a first appearance in the quarter-finals. This year, against France and New Zealand, history could repeat itself.
Italy team form
Often swept away by their opponents in the past, Italy has been on the rise for several months. Driven by an under-20 team that reached third place at the last Six Nations Tournament, the Italians have won some prestigious victories, notably against Wales, during the 2022 Six Nations, and against Australia, during the last fall tour. Taking advantage of the presence of a dozen players in the French and English championships, the Nazionale is no longer a small thumb to be taken lightly. However, the draw was not kind as the Italians will face France and New Zealand. Four years ago, they had already fallen to the All Blacks and South Africa.
Italy match schedule
The list of 33
Pillars: Pietro Ceccarelli, Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Ivan Nemer, Marco Riccioni, Federico Zani.
Talonneurs : Luca Bigi, Epalahame Faiva, Giacomo Nicotera.
Second rows: Niccolo Cannone, Dino Lamb, Federico Ruzzza, David Sisi.
Third rows: Lorenzo Cannone, Tao Halafihi, Michele Lamaro, Sebastian Negri, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani.
Demis de mêlée : Alessandro Fusco, Alessandro Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Stephen Varney.
Demis d’ouverture : Tommaso Allan, Giacomo Da Re, Paolo Garbisi.
Centers : Juan Igniacio Brex, Luca Morisi.
Wings/backs: Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane, Paolo Odogwu, Edoardo Padovani, Lorenzo Pani.
The probable composition
Player to watch: Ange Capuozzo
The little back, with supersonic support, is a “thrill” player, capable of lifting a stadium with a bang. Designated revelation of the year by World Rugby in 2022, after giving victory to the Italians in Cardiff, the Stade Toulousain player, trained in Grenoble, is nevertheless often on the sidelines. He missed the final stages of the Top 14, with a shoulder blade injury, and only returned to competition against Romania in mid-August, in a warm-up match after six months of absence. But he scored two tries…
