A first World Cup match logically has enough to make a player gamberger. Coming on as a substitute on September 20 in the Italy-Uruguay match, third row Giovanni Pettinelli seemed lost in thought as his team faced Uruguay. Left for the warm-up in the Uruguayan goal and hoping to finally return, the 27-year-old player remained frozen in front of a giant screen of the stadium without realizing that the action was taking place about ten meters behind his back. And he ended up embarrassing the Italian strikers who were trying to score a sixth try in this encounter.
Taking your eye off the ball 😂
Giovanni Pettinelli was a bit too starstruck by Ange Capuozzo on the big screen 🤪
#RWC2023 | #ITAvURU pic.twitter.com/AUpVpfmOD3
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 21, 2023
The incident can now bring a smile, Italy having won the match with the offensive bonus point, just as they did in their first meeting against Namibia. But the Italians will not be able to afford the slightest mistake of inattention in their two remaining group matches, on September 29 against New Zealand and on October 7 against France. Two meetings that take place in Lyon, not far from their base camp located in Bourgoin-Jallieu.
Second in Pool A before the duel against the All Blacks, the Italians dream of a feat on French soil against a formation they have faced 15 times in their history, for as many defeats. The two teams have already competed five times in the World Cup and the gaps have sometimes been huge, as in 1999 with a 101-3 for the All Blacks. In 1991, however, only ten points separated the two teams (21-31), the smallest gap to date.
New Zealand and Italy should also have faced Japan in the group stage of the last World Cup in 2019. But Typhoon Hagibis decided otherwise, causing the meeting to be cancelled. Two points were awarded to each team. Much to the chagrin of Italy, who needed the four points of a win against the All Blacks to qualify for the quarters. The Italians were frustrated that they could not play this game, even though their chances of winning it were minimal.
"Two eighth-finals to play"
Coach of the Squadra Azzurra since 2021, New Zealander Kieran Crowley knows well the history of clashes between these two nations since he attended the first, in 1987. This former full-back was then part of the group of New Zealand players selected for the first World Cup but he did not play this match won 70-6 by the All Blacks. In this competition, which at the time consisted of only 16 teams, Italy suffered two defeats and won a match against Fiji (18-15) in the group stage. New Zealand won the first Webb Ellis Trophy.
Read alsoFind the results and ranking of the World Cup
Kieran Crowley knows that Italy's history of the previous nine editions of the World Cup does not speak in favour of his players. The Squadra Azzurra have played 31 games and have a record of 13 wins and 18 losses, without ever having managed to qualify for the quarter-finals. A scenario that seems to be repeated in 2023, Italy finding itself in its pool alongside New Zealand and France, two much better ranked teams that will be its next opponents.
"We have two knockout rounds left, we are underdogs. We may be in the skin we prefer. We will try to do something. New Zealand is an exceptional team. Every rugby enthusiast wants to play against her. We will realize a dream, but we will also have to stay focused, "warned the three-quarters Ange Capuozzo, Italian nugget who joined last season the club of the Stade Toulousain.
A historic victory in Cardiff
Ange Capuozzo was named in December 2022 as one of the revelations of the year by the world federation, World Rugby. The 24-year-old burst onto the international stage in a match against Wales in the 2022 Six Nations Tournament. In front of a stunned Welsh crowd, he scored an incredible rebound from the Italian 40 meters in the 78th minute, playing with several defenders, before sending an assist to winger Edoardo Padovani, who flattened into the Welsh goal. With the transformation of Paolo Garbisi, Italy won on the wire in Cardiff (21-22).
The most beautiful test of the 5th day is signed... Edoardo Padovani 😍🇮🇹
Well brought by @CapuozzoAnge, the Italian winger was able to conclude in style and allow his team to win in the #SixNations for the first time since 2015! pic.twitter.com/Q8sTjrFycl
— Six Nations (FR) (@SixNations_FR) March 21, 2022
The victory ended a horrific 36-game losing streak in the Six Nations and an impressive collection of wooden spoons in the Tournament, an informal "reward" given each year to the team that has not won a single match in the competition. Nine months later, Italy scored another prestigious success by beating Australia in Florence (28-27).
These results have suggested a rise in power for Italy, which had hoped to confirm its progress in the 2023 edition of the Tournament. But if she offered a good resistance in her five meetings, she did not win any. Far from giving up, Italy demonstrated all its qualities in preparation matches for this World Cup, beating Japan (42-21).
With a player like Ange Capuozzo, who will play on the wing against the All Blacks, Italy has enough to panic any defense. And it can also rely on a solid pack of forwards, in which radiate Lorenzo Cannone, Federico Ruzza or captain Michele Lamaro. Scott McLeod, defense specialist for the New Zealand selection, praised this week the speed qualities of the Italian selection and highlighted the effectiveness of its game plan. No doubt, the All Blacks will be on their guard against Italians who, according to their federation, are "ready for the impossible".
Due incontri per scrivere la storia 🇮🇹 #RWC2023 #Italrugby#insieme #rugbypassioneitaliana pic.twitter.com/1om9gZy4RI
— Italrugby (@Federugby) September 25, 2023
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