'The beer can wait' for Bergamasco
When he came off the bench in Italy’s sluggish 23-18 win over Canada in Leeds on Saturday Bergamasco followed Samoa’s Brian Lima in playing at an astonishing five World Cups having made his first appearance in 1999.
The Padova native may be 36 and no longer the type of player considered quick enough to put in a shift on the wing, but when he entered the fray 57 minutes into the match at Elland Road on Saturday he showed all the attributes that have allowed him to accumulate 105 caps for the Azzurri.
Afterwards he showed the drive that has underpinned those caps, by hinting that he wants more than just a place on the bench.
"I haven't reached my objectives yet," he said. "My first aim was to get into the 31-man squad, then to play. Today I was on the bench."
Even if Bergamasco wasn’t in the mood to celebrate, his Italy teammates had no question of the magnitude of his achievement. 
"It is incredible as not many people get this opportunity," vice-captain Quintin Geldenhuys said. "He is a workhorse and the first into training and the last to leave. I have huge respect for him and so does the whole team. He puts his heart on the line and he’s a team guy."
"It is incredible," centre Gonzalo Garcia added. "To have a player like him is a huge motivation and I have pride to play with him."
On Saturday Bergamasco came on for No.8 Samuela Vunisa, but took up his usual place on the flank as Alessandro Zanni moved round to fill in at the back of the scrum.
He quickly made his presence felt with a brace of thumping tackles on Canada centre Connor Trainor and then by sealing the gaps around the ruck that Canada scrumhalves Jamie Mackenzie and Phil Mack had been only too happy to take advantage of.
It was another demonstration of the skills that he first showed in a blue shirt when he made his Italy debut down the road in Yorkshire against the Netherlands; a 1999 World Cup qualifier that Italy won 67-7 in Huddersfield en route to Bergamasco’s first World Cup.
More importantly, the win is the first after six consecutive losses for the Azzurri, a run that stretches back to midway through this year’s Six Nations and it means they go into their key encounter against Ireland at Olympic Stadium next Sunday, with a degree of confidence.
"I wanted to use my experience," Bergamasco said. "We didn't defend well at times both collectively and individually. The win was one of our aims and we had to work hard for it, but we weren't happy with how we played.
"The win is important for us as a way of turning a page. Now we have to carry on where we want to go."
@WorldRugby
