Rugby, Under 20 World Cup: Italy, history is up for grabs with Georgia

Returning to SunSquare Gardens after the historic success on young people Springboks (34-26), the Azzurrini were greeted warmly by the boys from France, with whom they share the same hotel in Cape Town: all standing and applauding, sincerely enthusiastic. The transalpines, who had scrambled the All Blacks a few hours earlier, offered a beer. Toasts. With the wish to meet again very soon, to celebrate the entrance of both teams to the semifinals of the world Cup. A dream? Tomorrow at 11 in the morning (live streaming on the World Rugby website) Italy will take to the field in search of the most important result ever for our rugby union: they must beat the Georgia with the offensive bonus point (4 tries are needed) to take command of poule A of the world championship; and if later (at 7 pm) Argentina fails to overcome the hosts of South Africa with the bonus, the Azzurri go through and fight for one of the first 4 places up for grabs. No, it’s not a dream. It can be done.

Scrum, defense, discipline: two specular teams

At the debut, Italy lost heavily (15-43) in a match conditioned by the expulsion – after less than a quarter of an hour – of the prop Aminu. With one less teammate, the failure was mainly mental. “The next day we forced ourselves to forget what had happened”, recalls the coach Massimo Brunello. Under the rain and in the mud of Paarl, the empathetic, well-deserved victory with South Africa arrived. “And again, we forced ourselves to forget the result of the last match”, insists Brunello, on the eve of the third round. No calculations, let’s do our rugby. With Georgia, who lost to South Africa (23-33) but then clearly beat Argentina (20-0) it will be above all a melee battle. Two specular teams: very strong physically and determined with the forward package, extremely effective in defence, disciplined. It will be important to establish yourself in the first scrums ordered.

Brunello: “It will be a battle with the forwards”

There is no time zone difference with South Africa: the games are played at 11 for television needs, 5 more matches are scheduled during the day, one after the other. This means waking up at 6, breakfast half an hour later, then an hour’s journey to reach the Danie Craven stadium which will host the match against the Georgians (the one in Paarl has become unusable). Yesterday, late in the morning, the Azzurrini’s team run was held on the grounds of the University of Cape Town. Four changes from Wednesday’s success. “Georgia is a team that we respect a lot, for what they express technically and for their approach. We know that Tuesday will be very tough, especially up front”, admits Brunello. “The boys know what they can give and where they can go, and we all face this important match with the utmost confidence in ourselves and in our work”.

Italy: Alessandro Gesi – Francesco Bini, Dewi Passarella, Nicola Bozzo, Lorenzo Elettri – Simone Brisighella, Lorenzo Casilio – Jacopo Botturi, David Odiase, Fabio Ruaro – Pietro Turrisi, Alex Mattioli – Marcos Francesco Gallorini, Nicholas Gasperini – Riccardo Bartolini. Subs: Giovanni Quattrini, Samuele Taddei, Federico Pisani, Enrico Pontarini, Carlos Berlese, Sebastiano Battara, Matthias Douglas, Giovanni Sante.
Georgia: Luka Tsirekidze – Shako Aptsiauri, Tornike Kakhoidze, Giorgi Shvelidze, Luka Khorbaladze – Petre Khutsishvili, Davit Khuroshvili – Nika Lomidze, Lasha Tsikhistavi, Rati Zazadze – Giorgi Nikoladze, Guram Ganiashvili – Irakli Aptsiauri, Basa Khonelidze, Giorgi Mamaiashvili. Subs: Tamaz Tchamiashvili, Lasha Pkhakadze, Badri Tsikhistavi, Giorgi Gergedava, Tornike Ganiashvili, Sandro Jigauri, Nicolas Ragoevi, Vazha Mikadze.
Referee: Damian Schneider (Arg)