Son of Wallaby gets shot at Springboks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made several changes to his team that will take on South Africa on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld.
Fresh from a comfortable victory over Namibia, Quesada’s Italian side face a tough challenge in the form of the back-to-back World Cup champions.
Only five of the Italian team, narrowly beaten by Ireland in their final 2025 Six Nations Championship match will face the Boks.
Centre Tommaso Menoncello is the only backline survivor from the Azzurri team that started a 17-22 loss to the Irish in Rome last March.
Props Danilo Fischetti and Simone Ferrari, flank Manuel Zuliani and No.8 Lorenzo Cannone are other starters who remain from a match that ended with Italy finishing fifth, ahead of Wales.
Argentina-born coach Gonzalo Quesada opted to rest many of those involved in the Six Nations campaign as he seeks to build squad depth before the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
It will be the 17th meeting between the two teams, with Azzurri only managing to secure a single victory back on November 19 2016, at the Stadio Franchi in Florence.
Alessandro Fusco will be at scrumhalf. He will partner with the young Zebra flyhalf Giacomo da Re.
The No.10, who only has three Test caps, will have his work cut out for him.
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Quesada opted for a more experienced midfield in the shape of the Zebre duo Marco Zanon and Tommaso Menoncello.
The back three consists of Jacopo Trulla at fullback with – son of Wallabies star Michael Lynagh – Louis Lynagh and Simone Gesi as the wings.
In the pack, Danilo Fischetty, Tommaso di Bartolemeo and Simone Ferrari have been selected to battle in the front row.
Exeter Chiefs lock Andrea Zambonin will pair with captain Niccolo Cannone in the second row.
The loose trio consists of Alessandro Izekor, Manual Zuliani and Lorenzo Cannone.
South African-born flank Ross Vintcent will hope to make an impact from the bench.
“Many of those rested have played a lot during the past two seasons so I believe they deserve a break,” the coach told reporters.
“Our two Tests against the Springboks present an opportunity to test other contenders for the World Cup squad,” he added.
After the first Test at Loftus Versfeld, Italy travel to Indian Ocean city of Port Elizabeth for the second and final international against South Africa on July 12.
Italy: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo De Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manual Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Andrea Zambonini, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Tommasso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Matteo Canali. 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 David Odiase, 22 Alessandro Garbisis, 23 Giulo Bertaccinini.
Date: Saturday, July 5
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.10 (17.10 Italy time; 15.10 GMT)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Andrew Brace (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
