RWC 2015 Preview Magazine Special Edition | Page 39

Italy

Nickname: The Azzuri
World Cup appearances: 7
World Cup best finish:
First round

Coach: Jacques Brunel
Captain: Sergio Parisse
Union: Rugby Europe

Following an unconvincing Six
Nations campaign, the Azzuri
have since slipped down to 15th
place in the latest World Rugby
Official Rankings.
Victories over Samoa and
Scotland in the last few months
sent a strong message to their
detractors and convinced the
world that they won’t be at the
World Cup just to add numbers.
In the likes of Samuela Vunisa,
Leornardo Sarto and Josh
Furmo, the Azzuri have one of
the best forwards in world rugby.
Although a quarter final spot is
out of reach, they may fancy
a win against either Romania
or Canada.

RWC 2015 Fixtures:
19 Sept

V

26 Sept

V

04 Oct

V

11 Oct

V

Italy is one of the teams to look out for in this year’s World Cup.

World Cup Squad: Sergio Parisse (c), Edoardo Gori, Guglielmo
Palazzani, Marcello Violi, Tommaso Allan, Carlo Canna, Tommaso
Benvenuti, Michele Campagnaro, Angelo Esposito, Gonzalo
Garcia, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luca Morisi, Leonardo Sarto,
Giovanbattista Venditti, Matias Aguero, Martin Castrogiovanni, Dario
Chistolini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Michele Rizzo, Leonardo Ghiraldini,
Davide Giazzon, Andrea Manici, Valerio Bernabo, Joshua Furno,
Marco Fuser, Quintin Geldenhuys, Mauro Bergamasco, Francesco
Minto, Samuela Vunisa, Alessandro Zanni.

RWC 2015 Preview Magazine 39