Italy’s head coach Gonzalo Quesada has announced his squad for the upcoming match against Samoa, with Matt Gallagher, son of former All Black World Cup winner John Gallagher, poised to make his international debut for the Azzurri. The game in Apia on Friday, marks the first of three Test Matches in Italy’s Summer Tour 2024.

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Gallagher, a 27-year-old fullback who recently signed with Benetton Rugby from Bath, will start in the number 15 jersey, becoming the fifth debutant under Quesada’s tenure. The former England U20 player brings an intriguing background to the Italian side, following in his father’s international footsteps but for a different nation.

He isn’t the only player in the squad with a World Cup-winning lineage. Louis Lynagh, who will start on the wing, is the son of Australian rugby legend Michael Lynagh, who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 1991.

Joining Gallagher and Lynagh in the back three is the experienced Monty Ioane. The centre pairing of Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello, who impressed during the 2024 Six Nations, remains unchanged.

In the forwards, captain Michele Lamaro leads a pack that includes Ross Vintcent and Alessandro Izekor in the back row. Izekor’s inclusion comes after Sebastian Negri suffered a rib injury in training. The seasoned front row of Danilo Fischetti, Gianmarco Lucchesi, and Simone Ferrari will anchor the scrum.

Quesada highlighted the challenges of reassembling the squad after a four-month break, stating, “The main challenge for us was to find all our automatisms and interconnections after four months without having the opportunity to work together with all the athletes coming from the habits of their clubs.”

The match against Samoa will be the ninth encounter between the two nations and the third in Apia. Italy will be aiming to improve their record against the Pacific Islanders, who have won five of their previous eight meetings.

This Summer Tour, which includes subsequent matches against Tonga and Japan, represents a crucial opportunity for Italy to build on their promising 2024 Six Nations campaign and further develop their team identity under Quesada’s guidance.

Italy XV


15 Matt GALLAGHER (Benetton Rugby, debut)

14 Louis LYNAGH (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)

13 Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 35 caps)

12 Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)

11 Monty IOANE (Lyon, 30 caps)

10 Paolo GARBISI (Toulon, 36 caps)

9 Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, 29 caps)

8 Ross VINTCENT (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps)

7 Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 38 caps) – captain

6 Alessandro IZEKOR (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)

5 Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 54 caps)

4 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 41 caps)

3 Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 53 caps)

2 Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 22 caps)

1 Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 41 caps)

Replacements


16 Loris ZARANTONELLO (Castres, debut)

17 Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)

18 Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Benetton Rugby, 21 caps)

19 Edoardo IACHIZZI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)

20 Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 21 caps)

21 Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)

22 Martin PAGE-RELO (Lyon, 8 caps)

23 Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 9 caps)

Wales 21 Italy 24

In a dramatic turn of events at Principality Stadium, Italy dealt a devastating blow to Welsh rugby, emerging victorious with a triumphant 24-21 win in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations. The match not only saw Italy secure a historic victory but also consigned Wales to their first Wooden Spoon in 21 years, marking a significant low point for the proud rugby nation.

From the outset, it was evident that Italy came prepared to make a statement, showcasing their defensive prowess and clinical execution. Paolo Garbisi wasted no time capitalizing on Wales’ early errors, confidently slotting two penalties to give Italy an 11-0 lead at halftime. The atmosphere in the stadium turned tense as Wales struggled to find their rhythm, with Italy’s resolute defense frustrating their every attempt to gain momentum.

The second half unfolded with Italy continuing to assert their dominance. Monty Ioane delivered a crushing blow to Welsh hopes with a sensational try, exploiting gaps in the defense and leaving the home crowd in stunned silence. Lorenzo Pani further compounded Wales’ woes with another well-worked try, stretching Italy’s lead and leaving Welsh fans fearing the worst.

Despite facing an uphill battle, Wales refused to concede defeat. Elliot Dee’s determined effort resulted in a hard-earned try, sparking a glimmer of hope for the home side. As the tension mounted, Will Rowlands and Mason Grady added to Wales’ tally with late tries, injecting a sense of urgency into the dying moments of the game.

However, Italy’s defense held firm under pressure, denying Wales the chance of a miraculous comeback. Crucial penalties from Garbisi and Martin Page-Relo ensured that Italy emerged victorious, leaving Welsh fans reeling from the bitter disappointment of their team’s first Wooden Spoon since 2003.

For Italy, the win represents a historic milestone, underscoring the progress made under the guidance of head coach Gonzalo Quesada. Conversely, Wales now faces a period of introspection and soul-searching, grappling with the harsh reality of their underwhelming performance in the tournament.

Italy Aims for Historic Finish Against Wales
Italy travels to Cardiff with history on their minds, knowing that a victory over Wales could secure their best-ever Guinness Men’s Six Nations finish. The Azzurri, buoyed by their recent win over Scotland, are eager to continue their success at Principality Stadium, where they last secured a memorable victory in 2022. Despite the absence of Ange Capuozzo, Italy boasts depth in the back-three and enters the match brimming with confidence after recent strong performances.

Wales, on the other hand, has endured a challenging campaign, suffering narrow losses and heavy defeats throughout the Championship. With a youthful squad led by coach Warren Gatland, Wales aims to avoid a winless campaign and a potential Wooden Spoon finish. Additionally, the match holds significant importance as it marks the final international appearance for George North, a stalwart of Welsh rugby.

Team News:
Wales Lineup:

Starting XV:
15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams
1 Gareth Thomas, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5 Adam Beard, 6 Alex Mann, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Aaron Wainwright
Replacements:
16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Mason Grady
Italy Lineup:

Starting XV:
15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney
1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza, 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 8 Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements:
16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Martin Page-Relo, 23 Leonardo Marin

Key Battle: George North vs. Ignacio Brex
In his final Test appearance, George North faces Italy, a team against whom he has enjoyed significant success, scoring 11 of his 49 Test tries. Determined to bow out on a high note, North aims to reach a half-century of international tries and potentially equal Brian O’Driscoll’s all-time record for tries in the Championship. He confronts Ignacio Brex, Player of the Match for Italy against Scotland, who has been a standout performer for the Azzurri in this campaign.

What They Said:
Retiring Wales Centre George North:
“It’s not been an easy decision for me… I’ve been very fortunate to live a dream not many people get to do… I am going to use this week and Saturday to really take it all in and to live my dream again one more time.”

Italy Head Coach Gonzalo Quesada:
“We have a good opportunity, but it’s going to be a tough match in a hostile atmosphere… The pressure will be on both teams.”

Match Facts:
Italy secured their first victory in Cardiff in 17 attempts during their last visit in March 2022.
Wales has won 28 out of 32 clashes against Italy, with three losses and one draw.

Previous Results:
2023: Wales won 29-17 in Rome
2022: Italy won 22-21 in Cardiff
2021: Wales won 48-7 in Rome
2020: Wales won 38-18 in Llanelli
2020: Wales won 42-0 in Cardiff
2019: Wales won 26-15 in Rome
2018: Wales won 41-38 in Cardiff
2017: Wales won 33-7 in Rome
2016: Wales won 67-14 in Cardiff

Conclusion:
As Wales and Italy prepare for their crucial Six Nations clash, both teams are determined to secure victory for different reasons. Italy aims for their best-ever finish, while Wales seeks to avoid a winless campaign and bid farewell to George North on a high note. With intriguing matchups across the field, rugby fans can anticipate an intense battle at Principality Stadium.