Italy rugby coach calls for morale-boosting Argentina win
MILAN (AFP) - Italy coach Jacques Brunel says only a win against Argentina on Saturday in Rome 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 of a far 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've 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 Scotland under-20 fly-half Tommaso Allan his full 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 Saturday's game in Rome.
The Italian-born 20-year-old Perpignan half-back 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 has been sidelined since suffering a heavy tackle early in last week's edgy win over Fiji which required him to have his spleen removed, 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.
Both No.8 and captain Sergio Parisse and prop Martin Castrogiovanni will start, meaning the pair will pick up their 101st caps for Italy to pull level with retired scrum-half Alessandro Troncon.
Retired prop Andrea Lo Cicero holds the record for Italy's most caps on 103.
Daniel Hourcade, meanwhile, made five changes to the side that started against Wales.
On Friday, both teams will be welcomed by Argentine-born Pope Francis at the Vatican, according to the Italian rugby federation.
"I'm very moved at the thought of meeting the Pope," said Brunel.
"It's something that happens only once in your life."
