Rugby World Cup 2023 is rapidly approaching, with just under two weeks until the opening game. Rugby.com.au examines every team's chances in France, looking at Italy.
Italy are on an upward trend as their next generation of talent starts to deliver significant results.
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Coach Kieran Crowley has become a staple of Italian Rugby and will be looking to end his tenure with the Azzurri on a high.
After a lean run in the Six Nations, the Italians will embrace the tough pool as they search for their first appearance in the knock out stages. Like in 2019, they face formidable opposition in New Zealand and France, which leaves Italy entering this tournament with a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality
Finished third in their 2019 RWC Pool
The Italians finished 2022 in red-hot form, headlined by a famous win over the Wallabies.
This failed to translate at the start of 2023, going winless in the Six Nations, although their narrow 29-23 defeat to France showed what they are capable on their day.
They followed this with losses to Scotland and Ireland in the Summer Nations Series before rebounding with a thumping win over Romania and Japan.
Prop Marco Riccioni and scrumhalf Stephen Varney have both been included in Italy's 33-man squad for next month's World Cup, despite suffering injuries against Ireland in their recent warm-up game.
English-born pair Paolo Odogwu and Dino Lamb also scored in that 57-7 win and are both included in the final squad.
Italy have two sets of brothers in their panel, Niccolo Cannone and his brother Lorenzo, along with the Garbisi siblings, Alessandro and Paolo.
Backs: Alessandro Fusco, Alessandro Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Stephen Varney, Tommaso Allan, Giacomo Da Re, Paolo Garbisi, Juan Ignacio Brex, Luca Morisi, Pierre Bruno, Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane, Paolo Odogwu, Lorenzo Pani.
Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli, Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Ivan Nemer, Marco Riccioni, Federico Zani, Luca Bigi, Epalahame Faiva, Giacomo Nicotera, Niccolo Cannone, Dino Lamb, Federico Ruzza, David Sisi, Lorenzo Cannone, Toa Halafihi, Michele Lamaro, Sebastian Negri, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani.
Ange Capuozzo is one of the most exciting fullbacks in World Rugby.
The 2022 Breakthrough Player of the Year graduates from the previous list into a genuine game-winner for the Italians.
The 24-year-old has struggled in 2023 with a shoulder injury, however, instantly showed his class with a double against Romania on his return.
It’s a homecoming for the fullback: born and raised in France, qualifying for Italy through his paternal grandparents.
Paolo Garbisi headlines a new wave of Italian talent set to take the side into the future.
The 23-year-old flyhalf has been selected in his first World Cup squad alongside brother Alessandro, forming a dangerous halves duo.
Garbisi has been given time to grow in the number ten jersey by Crowley and has significantly benefited from his 26 caps at such a young age.
The Garbisis and Capuozzo can be the nucleus of this Italian side for the next decade, with a positive World Cup fast-tracking their development and stature as stars.
Played: 31
Wins: 13
Loses: 18
Draw/Cancelled Games: 1 (the 2019 match with NZ was cancelled due to a Typhoon, awarded as a 0-0 Draw)
Best Finish: Group Stages (nine times)
2019: Group Stages
2015: Group Stages
2011: Group Stages
2007: Group Stages
2003: Group Stages
It was the game we never got in 2019 after a Typhoon swept through Japan in 2019 at the end of the pool stages.
Italy have never beaten New Zealand in their 15 attempts, set for their sixth clash at the World Cup.
There’s a real chance the Italians will lead Pool A at the halfway mark of this tournament thanks to winnable games against Namibia and Uruguay.
This will be a true test of where they sit against one of the favourites
Sat Sep 9 (9:00 PM): Italy v Namibia, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Thu Sep 21 (1:45 AM): Italy v Uruguay, Stade de Nice, Nice
Sat Sep 30 (5:00 AM): New Zealand v Italy, OL Stadium, Lyon
Sat Oct 7 (6:00 AM): France v Italy, OL Stadium, Lyon
