Rome – Italy’s head coach Gonzalo Quesada has announced three changes to the starting lineup for Saturday’s pivotal Six Nations encounter against England at the Stadio Olimpico. Alessandro Garbisi earns his first start of the tournament, while Lorenzo Pani returns at fullback, and Nacho Brex slots into the wing position. Veteran Tommaso Allan is included on the bench, providing additional options for the Azzurri.
The lineup adjustments were a central topic during Quesada’s pre-match press conference, alongside discussions about England’s current form and the anticipated style of play from the Red Rose. Italy will be looking to build on their recent performances in the Six Nations, and a win against England would be a significant step forward.
Garbisi Gets the Nod, Allan Returns to Azzurri Squad
Perhaps the most notable change is the selection of Alessandro Garbisi at fly-half, replacing the previously preferred Stephen Varney. Quesada explained the decision stemmed from Garbisi’s positive response to initially being left out of the squad. “Alessandro began the Six Nations with the toughest news, being informed he wouldn’t be called up,” Quesada said. “He responded excellently, stating he expected it and knew he hadn’t performed well. He then seized the opportunity to be called up and train, consistently making a positive impact when he entered the field. We seek to reward Alessandro, while also having a strong bench option with Varney, alongside Tommy Allan and Marin, to finish the match effectively.”
Quesada emphasized the value of having both Garbisi and Varney available. “Fusco is in great form and we want him on the field in the crucial final minutes. He’s played well in every match and trained exceptionally. We know what he can deliver when it matters most,” he added. Varney’s return to full fitness, along with Allan’s availability, provides the Italian coaching staff with a wealth of options in the backline.
The decision to start Lorenzo Pani at fullback also drew attention. Quesada clarified, “Lorenzo has been working very well. We remember that during the week of preparation for Ireland, even Capuozzo had trained well, but we still chose him based on what he had done in the previous weeks. In France, we decided to give Ange Capuozzo an opportunity, but I told Lorenzo he would be in contention for a jersey in the last two matches. Unfortunately, Capuozzo was injured, otherwise we could have had several options, even deploying one at fullback and one on the wing. Without Capuozzo, the decision to start Pani was logical.”
Balancing the Bench and Utilizing Allan’s Versatility
Italy will employ a 5+3 bench split, a strategic choice that Quesada discussed at length. “We carefully considered the bench composition, also thinking about a 6+2 setup, but ultimately opted for 5+3, placing a lot of trust in the five forwards who will start. They are all in excellent shape, and we preferred to have greater balance to handle any situation that may arise on Saturday. Allan allows us to have a second kicker at the end of the match.”
Allan’s return from injury is a significant boost for Italy. Having played 60 minutes for Perpignan, he’s regained valuable match fitness. “The fact that Allan played 60 minutes with Perpignan after many months of absence is very important for us, given that it allows us to have him available with more match rhythm,” Quesada noted.
Giacomo Nicotera is the only Italian starter who also featured as a starter for his club this weekend, playing his fifth consecutive match from the start between club and national team. Quesada jokingly remarked, “Mulo (Nicotera) is a machine! Stade is still in my heart, and Paul Gustard is a friend, but they were coming off a home defeat and told me they couldn’t do otherwise, because they needed him. They had already allowed him to rest the week before the match with Scotland, but they told me ‘One can let him rest once, but not twice’. Luckily, he received a yellow card and came off early (laughs), we were watching the match, we were at the 58th minute and we were saying ‘when will they take him off the field?’ (laughs).”
England’s Struggles and Italy’s Preparation
England enters the match in a challenging period, having lost their last two games. Quesada, however, stressed the importance of focusing on England’s strengths rather than dwelling on their recent results. “We must not look at the results of past matches, because they do many important things on the field. They win the most penalties in the scrum, gain the most meters with ball in hand, are number one in dominant tackles, slow the ball down the most at the ruck, and are also the best at getting it out quickly when they have possession. They do many things well, even if they haven’t won. We are aware of their strength and they are coming to Italy to show who they really are, so we prepare for the match without analyzing too much the results of the past.”
Quesada acknowledged the changes made by England coach Steve Borthwick, noting the shift in personnel and tactical approach. “They have always played with Mitchell – a player who gains many meters and is a true attacker – and Ford, who is a strategist and alternates hands and feet very well. Now against us, things change a lot because they play with a more constant and solid scrum-half (Spencer) but who takes less initiative, and a fly-half who instead attacks the line a lot and holds the ball much more: Fin Smith kicks mostly diagonally towards the wing and makes dangerous grubbers, but rarely kicks long, and is a very dangerous player in attack, and this makes me believe that England will want to maintain possession a lot.”
Looking ahead to the match at the Stadio Olimpico, Quesada anticipates a contest characterized by possession and less kicking than in England’s recent outings. “I expect a match with a lot of possession and less kicking than in England’s recent performances. They will kick mostly from the base because Ben Spencer has a great boot, but after the 30-40 meter initial kicks, they will play a lot with Fin Smith and attack us a lot with the hand. And then we know they will use the drive a lot: last year we conceded 3 tries from mauls, so we must be very prepared.”
Francesco Palma
Italy will face a stern test against England, but Quesada’s squad appears well-prepared and determined to build on their progress in the Six Nations. The match promises to be a captivating encounter, with both teams eager to secure a vital victory. The next confirmed checkpoint for the Italian national team is their match against Wales on March 16th. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Six Nations Championship.
