Rugby World Cup Profile – Italy
The Italian national Rugby Union team also commonly known as the Azzurri, are placed in Pool C of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Besides Italy, other teams in Pool C include Australia, Ireland, Russia and USA Eagles.
Azzurri’s are currently ranked 11th in the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) World Rankings. They qualified for the 2011 RWC courtesy of being one of the top 12 ranked rugby-playing nations in the world.
The 2011 RWC appearance will be their consecutive seventh RWC appearance. However, their performance in the events is nothing much to talk about. They are yet to progress to the second round of the Rugby Union’s premier world event. Their best performance
in the RWC history came during the 2007 RWC in France. However, their 18 – 16 defeat by the hands of the Scotland, ruined their chances of making it to the second round of the tournament.
Their most recent international appearance was in the 2011 RBS Six Nations tournament. They finished at the bottom of the table with just two points. They managed to deliver a 22 – 21 defeat to France at Rome, to register their solitary win out of the five
matches, they have played in this year’s Six Nations competition.
Stade Francais star back row forward, Sergio Parisse, without any doubt is Italy’s star player. The 74-cap veteran is considered to be as one of best number eights in the world, and his only counterpart in Northern Hemisphere is Ireland’s
Jamie Heaslip. The world class number eight Parisse will lead his side in the forthcoming RWC.
Besides Parisse, Azzurri’s fullback Andrea Masi also enjoys recognition at the international level. Following his impressive performance in the 2011 Six Nations competition, which earned him the player of the championship title, Racing Metro’s fullback
Masi will be looking forward to help the side to reach the second rounds of the RWC, for the first time in their history. Masi scored the last minute try, in their 2011 Six Nations’ win over the visiting France side.
Additionally, Masi club teammates, winger Mirco Bergamasco with his 81 international caps and prop Andrea Lo Cicero are reputed players in Northern Hemisphere and are respected for their talent and game skills.
Alessandro Troncon with his 14 RWC appearances holds Italy’s record for the most appearances in RWC tournament. Meanwhile, Diego Dominguez with his 98 points coming from his nine matches holds the record for the most points scored by an Italian for them
in the RWC.
Dominguez consists of a 1-drop goal, 2 tries, 14 conversions, and 19 penalties.
Marcello Cuttitta with his five tries holds the record for the most tries by an Italian in the RWC.
Azzurri’s head coach Nick Mallett has announced his final 30-man squad for their 2011 RWC campaign. The squad consists of,
Forwards: Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Andrea Lo Cicero, Salvatore Perugini, Tommaso DApice, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Fabio Ongaro, Marco Bortolami, Carlo Antonio del Fava, Quintin Geldenhuys, Cornelius van Zyl, Robert Barbieri,
Mauro Bergamasco, Paul Derbyshire, Sergio Parisse (Captain), Alessandro Zanni.
Backs: Pablo Canavosio, Edoardo Gori, Fabio Semenzato, Ricardo Bocchino, Luciano Orquera, Tommaso Benvenuti, Mirco Bergamasco, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Matteo Pratichetti, Alberto Sgarbi, Giulio Toniolatti.
Italy needs to deliver a series of upsets to give themselves a chance of winning the World Cup. Their best hope is to qualify for the second round of the event. They will start as favourites against lesser-known sides like Russia and USA Eagles. They have
very minute chances of defeating the Wallabies. However, their Pool match against Ireland would be next to the RWC final for them.
Provided that they win their two pool matches against Russia and Eagles and they were able to defeat the ‘Men in Green’, they give themselves a chance to qualify for the second round of the tournament for the first time in their history.
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