Italy do not take Namibia test lightly

A rare opportunity for a Tier One rugby nation to play against Namibia in Windhoek will be an occasion savoured by both teams, as the Italian leadership was talking up their opponents in the build-up the kick-off (15:00) of Friday’s test match at Hage Geingob Stadium.Gonzalo Quesada, head coach of Italy and former goal-kicking fullback for Argentina, pointed out in media interviews that his team has been feeling the high altitude and is indeed fully focused on their Namibian opposition this week – not yet distracted by their next two test matches against the Word Cup-holding Springboks.“We have lots of respect for the Namibian team, which contains some great players. We expect a very competent and physical challenge from a team playing in front of their home fans, for the pride of their nation,” Quesada said at the captain’s run yesterday.“All of our players have last played a match between five and ten weeks ago – so that is a factor we would have to overcome. In contrast, Namibia has played in the last two weekends (against Uganda and the Pumas).”A lengthy list of Italy’s star internationals were left at home for the Southern African tour, as their playing time are managed within the almost never-ending club scheduling. The list includes captain and flank Michele Lamaro (Benetton), centre Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon), flyhalf Paolo Garbisi (Toulon), and their electric wing Ange Capuozzo, who suffered an unfortunate leg fracture playing for Toulouse earlier this month.Quesada’s team is also aware that Italy does not have a winning record in Windhoek yet, with Namibia’s two shock wins in 1991 by Gerhard Mans’ team (17-7 and 33-19) tempered by Italy’s 49-24 win here ten years later.A core from the World CupDespite not being at full strength, Italy still fields a strong combination who will be favourites to manifest the nation’s more favourable World Rugby ranking compared to Namibia (10th vs 25th).Seven of Italy’s match squad were involved in their 52-8 domination of Allister Coetzee’s Namibian team in their 2023 Rugby World Cup encounter in Saint-Étienne, France.Italy’s nr 8 Lorenzo Cannone scored the first try of the match. Loose forward Manuel Zuliani (78th) and wing Paolo Odogwu (83rd minute) also added late tries as the Namibian team fell off the pace on a hot sunny afternoon.Flank Sebastian Negri (2023 and 2019 World Cups) is a senior leadership figure. The born Zimbabwean, playing for Benetton in the URC, has played over 60 tests, including against Namibia two years ago.Italy’s captain today, hooker Giacomo Nicotera, also started in the RWC 2023 match-up, while Marco Riccioni (also a 2019 World Cup prop) was sent on later. Scrumhalf Stephen Varney voltooi die agttal wat in die wedstryd-23 teen Namibië was.Another five members of Italy’s 2023 RWC squad who did not face Namibia were prop Danilo Fischetti (also a 2019 RWC player), lock Niccolò Cannone, scrumhalf Alessandro Fusco and flyhalf Giacomo Da Re.Zuliani (25 years; 32 tests), Lorenzo Cannone (24 years; 28 tests), Niccolò Cannone (27 years; 52 tests), Fischetti (27 years; 52 tests), Riccione (27 years; 33 tests), Nicotera (28 years; 33 tests) and Varney (24 years; 32 tests) are all established players at test and URC level.Late withdrawalMeanwhile, the Namibian combination that lost against the Pumas last weekend has since been strengthened up front by the addition of Free State Cheetahs hooker and prop, Louis van der Westhuizen and Aranos Coetzee, as well as Johan Retief (lock, from Russian club Krasny Yar).Tiaan Swanepoel (Cheetahs flyhalf) has a well-respected kicking boot, as his 15 points in last year’s loss against Portugal in Windhoek showed.A late change to the announced Namibian team was enforced when the versatile scrumhalf Oela Blaauw (University of Johannesburg) injured his ankle at training this week. His place on the bench will be taken by Unam’s nr 9 Andrew (AJ) Kearns.The Namibian team, almost half of which is currently registered with “amateur” clubs, will be severely tested in all departments by the battle-hardened Italians.Ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda next month, which serves as the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifier, Namibia will be hoping to see the addition of more stalwarts including Wian Conradie and Le Roux Malan (playing for New England Free Jacks in the Major League Rugby final this weekend), Divan Rossouw (Seattle Seawolves), Jay-Cee Nel and Tiaan de Klerk (both Pumas) and Richard Hardwick (Grenoble).&bull; Andrew Brace (37) from Ireland will be the referee.&bull; Full line-ups on page 4.&bull; Live broadcast from 14:30 on NTV’s channel, and the YouTube channel of Network Media Hub, as well as on https://oneuptwo.com/

Italy do not take Namibia test lightly

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-21

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Italy do not take Namibia test lightly

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-21

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