A last minute preemptive reschedule sees the Pumas take on the Azzurri a day earlier than expected, with rain expected to pour down on Genova all weekend. While it might be an inconvenience for broadcasters and administrators, surely the players and management will be happy to move on from last weekend as soon as possible. Argentina were well off form against Scotland, and though Italy might want to linger in the light of victory a little longer, they didn’t exactly set the world on fire either.
Jacques Brunel has opted to retain virtually the same side that upset the Manu, making only two changes with Martín Castrogiovanni fit to resume at tighthead and Francesco Minto optioned onto the bench. Lorenzo Cittadini and Robert Barbieri are the ones to drop out, with Dario Chistolini bumped to the bench.
Most of the news surrounding the game centred on Kelly Haimona’s introduction at flyhalf, and the New Zealander produced a respectable performance in his debut. With pitch conditions likely to be on the damp side of things, his kicking should feature even more this week, though he might look to give Michele Campagnaro a run early – if possible – to test Horacio Agulla’s suspect positioning at centre.
Agulla is one of eight changes made by Daniel Hourcade to the side that fell flat at Murrayfield. Captain Agustín Creevy and flanker Rodrigo Baez drop out with injury, replaced by Matías Cortese and Facundo Isa respectively. Guido Petti, three days shy of his 20th birthday, will win his first cap in the second row in place of ineffective Juan Cruz Guillemaín. Also getting the chop up front is Ramiro Herrera, who swaps places with Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Joining the reserves are Santiago Iglesias Valdez and another new cap, flanker Tomás Lezana.
Leadership was an issue in Edinburgh once Creevy went off, but Tomás Cubelli made an impression late in the game and he has been rewarded with a start and the captaincy as well. He and Martín Landajo have been embroiled in a battle for the scrumhalf jersey for the best part of three years with neither able to proclaim himself the champion as of yet. A strong showing against the Azzurri might just give Cubelli the edge heading towards the World Cup.
Nicolás Sánchez finds himself on bench duty this week with Juan Martín Hernández handed the no10 jersey to make room for Jerónimo de la Fuente in the midfield. Outside him Lucas González Amorosino replaces Juan Imhoff, and Matías Moroni takes Marcelo Bosch’s squad spot, ready to jump in should Agulla falter. Moroni has been on the promising list for a couple seasons now and it’s probably time to see if the creative centre will sink or swim.
Argentina have won the last four matches between the two cousins, including 10 of the last 12 dating back to 2001, with each loss bizarrely coming in Córdoba to the tune of a single point. Their only previous meeting in Genova was a 17 point victory for the Pumas in 2005. Don’t expect history to repeat itself this time. With so many changes Argentina should be a bit slow to get going, while Italy will be keen to pick up from where they left off in Ascoli. Look for this to be a tight match, at times disjointed, with plenty of kicking and the majority of the action taking place up front. Pick the Azzurri to sneak away with another win by 3.
ITALY vs ARGENTINA
Friday, November 14, 16:15 GMT, Genova
Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU)
Assistants: Glen Jackson (NZRU) & Ian Davies (WRU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)
