Italian
The head coach of the Italian Men’s National Rugby Team has officially announced the XV that will play tomorrow morning against the All Blacks in the second match of the Nations Championship
WELLINGTON (NEW ZEALAND) – The challenge is one of timeless allure, the hope is to finally succeed in beating them. Once there were two teams that ItalRugby had never defeated, after having beaten England in the Six Nations, now only one remains.
Tomorrow in Wellington at 5:10 PM local time (7:10 PM Italian time), the Azzurri will face the formidable New Zealand in the second day of the Nations Championship, broadcast live on Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Arena, and free-to-air on TV8.
The head coach Gonzalo Quesada has announced the lineup that will face the All Blacks. There are three changes from the match played and lost against Japan last week. In the backline, only Faissal is confirmed, alongside veteran Tommaso Allan and a debut in the Nations Championship for Lynagh.
The two centers Brex and Menoncello are confirmed with Paolo Garbisi and Varney. The fortieth appearance in the senior National team for Lorenzo Cannone, who will play alongside captain Lamaro and Ross Vintcent in the back row. In the second row Zambonin and Niccolò Cannone, while in the front row there will be Riccioni, Di Bartolomeo, and Fischetti.
On the bench will also be former Mogliano player (currently with Benetton) Giulio Marini. If he were to enter the field, he would be the nineteenth debutant under Quesada’s management and the third, after Faissal and Ortombina, during the Nations Championship. The young player from Treviso will have Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Hasa, Ruzza, Favretto, Alessandro Garbisi, and Marin by his side.
The summer schedule of the Men’s National Team in the Southern Hemisphere Series of the 2026 Nations Championship
Japan v Italy 27-10 (4-0) – Tokyo, Chichibunomiya Stadium
New Zealand v Italy – Saturday, July 11, at 5:10 PM local time (7:10 AM ITA) – Wellington, Sky Stadium
Australia v Italy – Saturday, July 18, 6:10 PM local time (12:10 PM ITA) – Perth, HBF Park
The XV against New Zealand
This is the lineup that will take the field:
15 Tommaso ALLAN (Zebre Parma, 90 caps)
14 Malik FAISSAL (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
13 Juan Ignacio BREX (Toulon, 53 caps)
12 Tommaso MENONCELLO (Stade Toulousain, 40 caps)
11 Louis LYNAGH (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)
10 Paolo GARBISI (Toulon, 55 caps)
9 Stephen VARNEY (Exeter Chiefs, 38 caps)
8 Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 39 caps)
7 Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 55 caps) – captain
6 Ross VINTCENT (Exeter Chiefs, 20 caps)
5 Andrea ZAMBONIN (Exeter Chiefs, 19 caps)
4 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 64 caps)
3 Marco RICCIONI (Perpignan, 37 caps)
2 Tommaso DI BARTOLOMEO (Zebre Parma, 11 caps)
1 Danilo FISCHETTI (Northampton Saints 64 caps)
Available
16 Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Toulon, 34 caps)
17 Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
18 Muhamed HASA (Zebre Parma, 9 caps)
19 Giulio MARINI (Benetton Rugby, debutant)
20 Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 72 caps)
21 Riccardo FAVRETTO (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)
22 Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)
23 Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)
Photo Credits: Federugby.it
