Preview: Italy v Argentina
Heavy rains in recent days in the flood-hit city of Genoa have forced the rescheduling of the Test between Italy and Argentina, the Italian rugby federation (FIR) confirmed Thursday.
The match will still be played at Genoa's Luigi Ferraris stadium, but kicks off on Friday at 17.15pm local time (16.15 GMT).
"The Italian Rugby Federation announces that the Test match between Italy and Argentina, originally scheduled for Saturday at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, has been brought forward to Friday at 17.15," a statement from the FIR said.
Earlier, the Saturday fixture was cancelled over fears that predicted heavy rain in Genoa on Saturday would lead to further chaos.
So far this month, five people have been killed in flood-related incidents.
FIR officials told AFP the decision was taken following hours of meetings with officials from the city, including those tasked with guaranteeing public safety.
"The decision was made because of the very strong possibility of heavy rain on Saturday. Security officials felt that holding the match then posed just too much of a risk."
The death toll from the latest wave of storms to batter northern Italy rose to five on Thursday as floods and landslides continued to wreak havoc across the region.
Genoa suffered particularly badly during heavy floods last month when millions of euros' worth of damages were caused and people were forced from their homes.
The floods also badly affected the pitch at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, which is usually shared by Serie A sides Genoa and Sampdoria.
The statement added that the choice of hour for Friday's game was "necessary to safeguard the proper arrival and departure of the public".
"All tickets that have been sold will still be valid for the game."
Italy began their November Test series with a morale-boosting 24-13 win over Samoa in Ascoli last week.
But after moving on to Genoa at the start of the week, the Azzurri were forced to train indoors due to poor conditions outside.
The game against Argentina will be the Italians' second in the three-Test November series, ahead of meeting South Africa in Padua next weekend.
Italy made just one change to its starting line-up – with Toulon prop Martin Castrogiovanni, who was suspended for the Samoa game, replacing Dario Chistolini and will make his 106th international appearance.
Chistolini drops to the bench, where the only other change is the introduction of flank Francesco Minto for Robert Barbieri.
Italy ended a year-long losing streak by coming back from seven points down at halftime to beat Samoa 24-13 last Saturday.
It has beaten Argentina five times in 19 matches, with its last victory coming in 2008.
Argentina succumbed 31-41 to Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend and coach Daniel Hourcade has made eight changes from that side.
It will be the 20th meeting between Italy and Argentina, who have dominated the series so far 13-5 with only one draw between the sides, in 1997.
Italy last beat the Pumas, by 13-12, in Cordoba in 2008 while under the reins of former coach Nick Mallett.
Players to watch:
For Italy: You always start with captain Sergio Parisse, then you look at their Kiwi flyhalf Kelly Haimona, before finishing off with prop idol Martin Castrogiovanni. Pretty standard, really.
For Argentina: Flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez pulls the strings, while the service from scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli will be vital – not to mention that he has also taken over the captaincy from injured hooker Agustín Creevy. Matias Cortese, in the No.2 jersey vacated by Creevy, will also have a massive task at hand.
Head to head: In games between these two teams you always highlight the scrums. In fact it is often the only highlight. It pits Martin Castrogiovanni (back from suspension), Leonardo Ghiraldini and Matias Aguero (Italy) against the revamped Argentina front row of Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Matias Cortese and Marcos Ayerza.
Recent results:
2013: Argentina won 19-14, Naples
2012: Argentina won 37-22, San Juan
2010: Argentina won 22-16, Verona
2008: Argentina won 22-14, Torino
2008: Italy won 13-12, Cordoba
2007: Argentina won 24-6, Mendoza
2006: Argentina won 23-16, Rome
2005: Argentina won 39-22, Genoa
2005: Italy won 30-29, Cordoba
2005: Argentina won 35-21, Salta
Prediction: Don't expect a try-feast. The weather won't allow it and the DNA of the two teams suggest they are more comfortable in a brutal arm-wrestle. Argentina may struggle to bounce back from last week's humiliation against Scotland and their fragile psyche will open the door for Italy to sneak a win … in single digits.
Teams:
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Luke Mclean, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Marco Bortolami, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Giulio Toniolatti.
Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 13 Horacio Agulla, 12 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Facundo Isa, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Matias Cortese, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Lucas Ponce, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Matias Moroni.
Date: Friday, November 14
Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genova
Kick-off: 17.15 (16.15 GMT, 13.15 Argentina time)
Expected weather: After days of heavy rain, there will be periods of sun – before increasingly heavy rain sets in, in the evening. High of 18°C and low of 14°C
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Ian Davies (Wales)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
AFP & @rugby365com
