WE HAVE GON SEPARATE WAYS..
Italian boss accepts his team will need to reverse major trend in order to stun Irish
GONZALO QUESADA knows a bit about shocking Ireland – he was in the Argentina side that staged the infamous Lens ambush in the 1999 World Cup.
But it would be something else for Quesada in his second game as Italy boss to pull off a similar feat in Dublin on Sunday.
It is almost nine years since the Azzurri delivered the fatal blow to the Declan Kidney era with their 22-15 triumph in Rome.
Since then, the closest Italy have come was the seven-point defeat when the sides met in London’s Olympic Stadium – in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup.
The distance between the sides has increased massively in recent years and, in the last two Six Nations games in Aviva Stadium, Ireland hit the half century points mark.
The Italians hit a low during the World Cup after threatening to deliver a Six Nations win in 2023 to go with their victory over Wales the previous year.
With Kieran Crowley moved on and Quesada installed in the Kiwi’s place, the Azzurri scored three scintillating tries in their championship opener at the Stadio Olimpico last Sunday.
But they were swatted aside by England in the second half and, with Ireland’s attack firing on all cylinders on the evidence of their five-try salvo against France last week, this could be a harrowing trip for the minnows.
They are also without the physical presence of Sebastian Negri against a side targeting back to back Grand Slams for the first time.
“We now know much better where to focus and definitely the first goal is to improve as we are going to play in a much tougher environment in Dublin against an Ireland team that scored 40 points against France,” acknowledged Quesada.
“We must go to play one of the top teams in the world in their stadium with another week’s preparation, and be ready to compete.
“Sometimes it is enough to compete
– at other times, we have to push teams to be at their best to beat us.
“England made us play their game, the game they wanted in the second-half.
“But apart from that,
I’m completely confident in the team.
“What I liked is that there isn’t a single player or staff member who is satisfied with this narrow defeat.
“That’s something that is very important to me.”
Ireland centre Garry Ringrose is expected to miss the clash against Italy with a shoulder injury but could for the third round clash with Scotland.