Italrugby, Gonzalo Quesada picked the lineup for Namibia
The lineup that Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has decided to field next Friday against Namibia in Windhoek, in the first of three matches that make up the 2025 summer tour schedule in southern Africa, is ready. The extended triangle will consist of Trulla, Gesi and Paolo Odogwu, who returns to the national team after his last appearance at the 2023 World Cup.
The centers will be Menoncello and Marin while the keys to the midfield will be given to Da Re and Fusco. Third line with Vintcent, Zuliani and Negri, while second line will feature Niccolò Cannone and Favretto. On the front line along with Nicotera – first time captain – will be Riccioni and Fischetti.
“We worked intensively both before the departure and after the’arrival in Windhoek, and the biggest challenge was to regain rhythm and automaticity with the players in a short time,” explained Quesada, who with his staff had decided to give up many starters to give them time to rest after two intense seasons.
“There are athletes who have not played for five weeks, some for more than 15, and others at their first convocation who have had to learn our playing principles. One of the positive aspects is the great energy the group is showing – continued the coach -. In this tour every opponent is important and our approach is always the same: continue the progress in the’offense, show our true identity in defense, and give some players opportunities to compare themselves at this level”.
Quesada has settled on the bench the three rookies –Di Bartolomeo, Hasa and Belloni, Mvp of the last Elite A Series ’along with Spagnolo, Zambonin, Lorenzo Cannone, Varney and Bertaccini. Friday’s will be the sixth confrontation with Namibia, the fourth in Windhoek with the previous ones played in Africa in favor of the hosts. The last previous one was from the 2023 World Cup, when the Azzurri won 52-8.The other two matches on the tour will both be against South Africa, July 5 in Pretoria and July 12 in Porth Elizabeth.
