Italy, Gonzalo Quesada’s objectives for the Summer Series: “Increase the depth of the group and develop our team identity”

The summer tour of the Italian national team officially begins on Friday 5 July. After a very positive 2024 Six Nations, the Azzurri are called to confirm their progress against Samoa, Tonga and Japan.

Three difficult and stimulating matches, which will be used to accumulate experience, but also to continue a positive streak of results that has lasted since the March match against France.

An undertaking that promises to be challenging although not impossible. Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada knows this well and analyzed his choices in a long interview on the channels of the Italian Rugby Federation.

The team led by Michele Lamaro will be busy for three weekends in a row. First the debut in Apia, then the match in Nuku’Alofa and finally the match in Sapporo.

Read also: Summer Series: dates and times of Italy’s test matches with Samoa, Tonga and Japan

Italy, Gonzalo Quesada: “We already have to prepare players who can be with us in November or next year”

In selecting the players for the Summer Series, Gonzalo Quesada used precise criteria, also taking into account factors not only relating to the technical aspect.

“We had to make different assessments compared to the Six Nations, where if necessary we could recall players on the same day. This time it won’t be possible because we are really far away and we must have maximum coverage in all roles, with players able to occupy multiple positions so as to be able to respond to every eventuality. Among the factors we considered there is also experience, because it will be a very tough tour full of adversity, but at the same time – as we did at the Six Nations – every rally and every match will be a chance for growth for the most young. We already have to prepare players who can be with us in November or next year.”

Read also: Italy’s squad for the summer tour against Samoa, Tonga and Japan

Among the players who were not seen at the L’Aquila meeting was Ange Capuozzo, involved in the final stages of the Top 14. However, his presence is assured, as Gonzalo Quesada himself explained. In any case, the back line can count on some new faces and players looking for playing time. Among the most important new features is the former Italian player François Mey, officially an extreme player but included among the centres.

“At Clermont this year he played in both roles, but we called him up above all to cover the position of 13 (second centre). For the number 12 shirt (first centre) we think Menoncello and Zanon can play, even if Tommaso can do both, while Brex and Mey will be the two 13s. I spoke with François and he is aware that he will have more opportunities as a second center than as an extreme and we think he has the qualities to do so.”

The choice to exclude Gesi and the role of Leonardo Marin

Another popular name on the fast line is Simone Gesi, who was however excluded from the squad. A decision that according to Gonzalo Quesada was anything but easy.

“We have followed him a lot this year and we are very happy with his season, but Ioane and Lynagh were ahead of him in terms of performance. In the end we decided to call up 2 wingers, then completing the group with Trulla and Gallagher. Furthermore, Gallagher allows us to have another left-footed player in the team, which is important for a team like ours which has a good alternation in foot play.”

Read also: Marco Zanon presents Italy’s summer tests

Leonardo Marin has an option for the number 10 shirt. The young Benetton Rugby talent demonstrated his versatility by also occupying the wing spot. In July, however, there should be no surprises regarding his position on the pitch.

“If we consider the openings available we have Paolo Garbisi, who already has great experience despite his young age, but we need other players who can occupy the role: Marin is young, he needs to play and develop in this role, as well as Montemauri also has important potential. The same goes for him as for Mey: in this tour he will only work in the number 10 position, just as François will work in the number 13 position. This will allow them to improve their skills and the national team to have more options in these roles: we need to develop a player who can reach the same level as Paolo Garbisi, so as not to find ourselves with only one option in a role.”

The evaluations underlying the choices in the scrum package

The list made official by the Italian technical staff also includes David Odiase, one of the most interesting profiles of the Under 20 national team highlighted in the 2023 Six Nations, capable of beating South Africa in last year’s World Cup. The coach hopes for ever greater use of Oyonnax’s flanker, as well as other emerging players.

“Players like Odiase and Mey have great potential even if unfortunately they don’t play at a higher level yet. We have to accompany them, see them and make them work with us and hopefully they can gain more experience with their club. We decided to call them, also in place of players with more experience, because it is very important to have young players with us. Likewise, among those pre-called up was Marini, who played this year in Mogliano and I am sure that he will play much more with Benetton next season.

Gonzalo Quesada also revealed how Loris Zarantonello entered the radar of the Italian Rugby Federation.

“After being announced as the new head coach Loris wanted to let me know through his agent that he was eligible for Italy and was very motivated to wear the Azzurra shirt. I immediately found it interesting that it was his initiative: I followed his season in Castres and he did very well. My priority was to complete the group with Manfredi or Bigi, who however got injured, and at that point we chose between two debutants: Zarantonello and Ribaldi. We know the second well also because he worked with Richard Hodges and Andrea Moretti at Zebre, we follow him and he has great potential, but in the end we chose Loris to get to know him a little more and to reward your very good season in France, which was worthy of the call.”

Read also: Italy, Mirco Spagnolo: “I feel like an impact player. I need to continue to develop my decision-making skills”

Muhamed Hasa as Simone Gesi will also not be present during the Summer Series. According to Quesada, his exclusion will not compromise his future in the blue shirt.

“It was the longest and hardest decision to make. Hasa is one of those players we really wanted to have with us, he has had incredible growth and has great humility and dedication to his work: exactly the type of character we need. We had to make some assessments: our front line is very strong and at the Six Nations there were some guys who never had the opportunity to play: calling 3 complete front lines for just 3 games would have been a bit much, so we took 3 right props with Simone Ferrari who can also play on the left. I spoke with Hasa as I spoke with all the players on the list who were left out, explaining the reasons and the situation to them. I believe that clarity with the players is very important and I know they appreciate it, ‘Momo’ knows that he is truly part of this group and will be a prop that we will see with the national team next season”.

Italy, Gonzalo Quesada: “Improving effectiveness in each of our game sectors”

The summer tour is a significant test and when asked about the possible rotation of all 33 players available, Gonzalo Quesada responds as follows:

“We have 3 clear objectives: the first is to develop our team identity and this tour is an opportunity to continue doing so; the second is to improve the effectiveness of every sector of our game, after having analyzed our Six Nations in detail we know we can improve further in attack, defense and conquest; the third objective is to have a group as rich and deep as possible, but we know that perhaps not all 33 will be able to play, because the priority will always be to have the most competitive team possible for each match”.

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