Italy coach Gonzalo Queada said Wales
mus not be underestimated in Saturday's match at the Olimpico
even after their 43-0 demolition by France in Paris a week ago.
"We have never thought, not even for a minute, that we are the
favorites for Saturday's match against Wales, and we must not
think about the past, about that 21-24 for us last year: today
they are a different team, and they also had one more day than
us to prepare", he told the pre-match press conference.
Quesada said he was demanding maximum concentration, so as not
to see again those mistakes made in the second half against
Scotland that cost the Azzurri the match.
"We had tied the score at 19-19 - the coach recalls - and we
were in an ideal game situation. Then there was that play with
three consecutive errors from my players and we conceded a try
that, at this level, is difficult to accept and that changed the
game. Against the Welsh we will therefore have to be fully
focused".
To those who asked him why star Ange Capuozzo was confirmed on
the wing and does not play with the number 15 jersey as a
full-back, Quesada responded that "Ange has already done it, and
well, even with Toulouse".
Then the conversation returned to the Welsh and the risk that
they may be underestimated.
"I wasn't there - Quesada recalled - but two years ago Italy
thought they would win after having succeeded the year before in
Cardiff, instead they lost (17-29, ed.) which was also a lesson.
"We must keep this in mind, just as it should be underlined that
last week Wales faced the match against France, which is on
another level today, more as a test of preparation for the
challenge against us than to win in Paris.
"So then they went to Nice for a week to train in preparation
for Saturday. I also noticed their different way of attacking,
with a lot of movement, foot play and pressure. And then how can
you not take seriously a team that has people like Faletau (who
will return to play for the national team, for his 105th
appearance, for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, ed.),
Liam Williams, Jac Morgan and Josh Adams?".
The Argentine coach explained the starting XV in which, compared
to Edinburgh, there will be only one change with Niccolò
Cannone, in place of Dino Lamb in the second row.
"I chose continuity - explained the Italian coach -. Before
Scotland we had little time to work, now there was more, also to
examine the mistakes made. And then I chose to leave Lamb out at
the beginning to have an extra jumper ready on the bench".
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