An Argentine coached and captained Italy will take-on the Wallabies in Udine on Saturday. The venue is the same as that in which Gonzalo Quesada’s Azzurri faced Los Pumas a year ago. Quesada, a former Puma is in charge of the world no 10 (77.77 points) Italy who face the world no 7 (82.90) Australia. Both teams are in search of a win to boost their prospects of the most friendly draw possible for Rugby World Cup 2027.
Quesada’s team will, not for the first time, be captained by Juan Ignacio Brex. The 33-year-old Brex will lead the Azzurri from outside center. The Buenos Aires born and produced mid-fielder will partner Tommaso Menoncello in the all-Benetton combination.
Saturday’s fixture marks the 22nd test match between Italy and Australia. The most recent meeting saw Italy winning 28-27 in November 2022 in Florence.
ITALY
15 Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain, FR, 28 caps), 14 Louis Lynagh (Benetton, 7 caps), 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon, FR 46 caps) – captain, 12 Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton, 31 caps), 11 Monty Ioane (Lyon, FR, 39 caps), 10 Paolo Garbisi (Toulon, FR, 47 caps), 9 Stephen Varney (Exeter Chiefs, UK, 34 caps), 8 Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton, 30 caps), 7 Manuel Zuliani (Benetton, 35 caps), 6 Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs, UK, 17 caps), 5 Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs, UK, 12 caps), 4 Niccolò Cannone (Benetton, 55 caps), 3 Simone Ferrari (Benetton, 66 caps), 2 Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français, FR, 34 caps), 1 Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints, UK 55 caps)
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma, 3 caps), 17 Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton, 16 caps), 18 Marco Riccioni (Saracens, 34 caps), 19 Federico Ruzza (Benetton, 64 caps), 20 Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps), 21 Martin Page-Relo (Bordeaux, 18 caps), 22 Tommaso Allan (Perpignan, 86 caps), 23 Leonardo Marin (Benetton, 15 caps)
