Italy enters Saturday's Nations Championship clash in Turin severely depleted by injuries to key starters, including captain Michele Lamaro. Head coach Gonzalo Quesada emphasized the need to execute unexpected tactics against a visiting side led by Rassie Erasmus, whom he labeled the world's best coach. To balance fitness and tactical readiness, Italy has chosen to start Alessandro Fusco at scrumhalf over Stephen Varney while moving other veteran regulars to the bench.
Key points
Italy must overcome the absence of multiple key leaders to break their recent losing stre…: Italy must overcome the absence of multiple key leaders to break their recent losing streak from July.
Rassie Erasmus showed significant respect to the Azzurri by fielding a premier Springbok…: Rassie Erasmus showed significant respect to the Azzurri by fielding a premier Springbok side in Turin.
Gonzalo Quesada selected Alessandro Fusco to start at scrumhalf based on his superior mat…: Gonzalo Quesada selected Alessandro Fusco to start at scrumhalf based on his superior match preparation.
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Nov 5 : Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada hailed South Africa's Rassie Erasmus as the best coach in world rugby, saying his side would need to be unpredictable to stand any chance of unsettling the world champions in Saturday's Nations Championship match in Turin.
Italy lost all three games in the competition in July and now host a formidable side who have selected their strongest line-up despite matches against France and Ireland still to come.
"It doesn't happen often that South Africa puts out the best team against Italy," Quesada told reporters on Thursday.
"The fact that they do it despite playing next Friday, therefore with one less day of rest, against France is a sign of great respect.
"Erasmus is the best coach in the world and he has always been very kind to Italy and to me personally. He knows the reality of our national team and knows our challenges, so he knows how to evaluate our performance very well.
"If we really want to be in the game we have to be at the highest level and at…
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