Azzurri desperate for win over Argentina to salvage honour

ITALY rugby coach Jacques Brunel says only a win against Argentina in Rome today will prevent the Azzurri’s November Test series being a failure.

Italy followed a 50-20 mauling by Australia two weeks ago with a hard-fought 37-31 win against Fiji last weekend, when the South Pacific islanders threatened to cause an upset late in the game despite at one point being reduced to 11 players.

Both performances hardly backed the suggestion – following Six Nations wins earlier this year against France and Ireland – that Italy under Brunel could become a thorn in the side of Europe’s big guns on a more regular basis.

Italy welcome a Pumas side hungry for a win after unimpressive displays in heavy defeats to England and Wales.

From 18 previous encounters with Italy, Argentina also boast by far the better record having won 12 to Italy’s five.

Brunel warned of giving away an early lead to the visitors and admitted defeat would add to Italy’s woes following a summer tour in which the Azzurri suffered three defeats, to South Africa, Samoa and Scotland.

“We need to play well and get the win. If we lose this game we can say our November series has not been a success because it will follow a summer tour that wasn’t good,” said Brunel.

Argentina’s 31- 12 defeat to England was followed by a 40-6 hammering by Wales last weekend.

However, Brunel warned: “They lost both those matches but they’ve made progress. In terms of structure within the team they are solid.

“We can’t afford to go behind because getting back into the game will be very difficult.”

Brunel stressed: “Our defence needs to really show up for this match. In terms of personal and collective effort, we’ve not played to our true potential.”

As he looks ahead to building a squad for the 2015 World Cup, Brunel will hand former Scot- land Under-20 flyhalf Tommaso Allan his starting debut.

Allan, who has made substitute appearances against Australia and Fiji, scoring his maiden try late in the Wallabies defeat, is one of three changes for today’s game in Rome.

The Italian-born 20-year-old Perpignan flyhalf pushes Luciano Orquera on to the bench, with Michele Campagnaro also making his full debut, starting at outside centre. I want to evaluate all the players I have,” added Brunel. “We have 20 games until the World Cup starts and we can’t wait too long.”

Veteran Gonzalo Canale moves from outside to inside centre with Luca Morisi, who had his spleen removed surgically after a heavy tackle by a Fijian last week, missing out.

Robert Barbieri comes back into Brunel’s starting XV at openside flanker, replacing Mauro Bergamasco, who is not included in the matchday squad.

No 8 and captain Sergio Parisse, and prop Martin Castrogiovanni will start and pick up their 101st caps for Italy to pull level with retired scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon. – Sapa-AFP