In the best season of Italian rugby, the U20 boys begin their adventure in the South African World Cup tomorrow afternoon by facing Ireland in Cape Town (4.30pm, live streaming on Rugbypass.tv). Last year, with coach Massimo Brunello – who will lead the Zebre di Parma from next season – they finished in 11th place, defeating Japan in the final which relegated the Japanese to the second tier. The Italians are placed in pool B with Australia, Georgia and of course the Irish. On 4 July they will face the young Wallabies at the Athlone Stadium, also in Cape Town, on 9 July in Stellenbosh against the Georgians, who defeated us on the same ground in 2023 with a score of 30 to 17. The boys of the new coach Roberto Santamaria will also have the opportunity to seek revenge against Ireland, who in the last Six Nations – finished in 4th place – defeated them in Cork by a small point (22-23) at the end of a daring match.
Coach Santamaria: «Humility and discipline»
“The Cork match, played at a very high level, remains in all of our minds as a good memory, but it certainly cannot be taken as a parameter to set the game on Saturday, which will have completely different dynamics”, explains Santamaria. “We approach the challenge with humility and awareness of our identity as a game and as a group, and if it is true that in our sport every game is a story in itself, it is even more true that a World Cup is truly something apart, where every little mistake is paid dearly during the tournament”. The Greens had finished the Si Nations of the category in 2nd place, just one point behind England. “Ireland is a fast, physical team, tough up front and very organised in aerial defence, with extremely competent players in all areas of the game. All of this must translate into a game to be played at a very high standard, focusing on our strengths and paying maximum attention to the aspect of discipline”.
Italia: Belloni – Scalabrin, Zanandrea, Bozzo, Elettri – Pucciariello, Jimenez – Botturi, Bellucci, Zucconi – Milan, Midena – Ascari, Gasperini, Pelliccioli. Available: Siciliano, Gentile, Pisani, Redondi, Casartelli, Casilio, Brisighella, De Villiers.
