Garcia ready to 'go home'
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:22
Gonzalo Garcia will be hoping to become the latest in a long line of Argentina-born players to have made their mark on the world stage in an Italian jersey during Italy's tour to South Africa and Argentina.
A number of the current Italian squad were born and brought up in Argentina before the lure of a higher level of rugby drew them to Europe.
Captain Sergio Parisse, prop Martin Castrogiovanni and lock Santiago Dellape all hail from Argentina and should he win a cap Garcia, who was capped for Los Pumas at Under-21 level, will be the 27th Argentine to play for Italy.
Garcia, who qualifies for Italy through residency rules, was simultaneously chosen for Argentina's A team for the Churchill Cup in Canada and United States, before the lure of Six Nations rugby pushed him towards Nick Mallett's Italian team.
"I thought playing for Italy I would come up against better opposition than I would for Argentina," he said, adding: "It will be better for my development to play in these important competitions [Six Nations and Heineken Cup].
"I'm very happy to have this opportunity I've been given and wearing the blue shirt will be something very special."
There is the very real possibility that the Calvisano player could make his debut in the first match of the tour - in a one-off Test against the Springboks in Cape Town on June 21.
With the regular centre pairing of Mirco Bergamasco and fellow Argentine-born Gonzalo Canale on club duty in the French Top 14, Italy coach Nick Mallett's resources in midfield are badly stretched and only Biarritz's Andrea Masi has any notable level of international experience.
However, despite taking on the World Cup holders in their own back yard, Garcia is hopeful that the Azzurri can continue to expand their gameplan as they did in the Six Nations this year.
"Against the world champions it is important that we stay together as a team. We have to work hard in defence and very hard in attack.
"However, we have to try things. We have to try and play."
Even though he could be taking some of his first international steps in two of rugby's most fearsome rugby arenas, Garcia is treating a trip to the home of the world champions and his birthplace as just two other matches of rugby.
"It's a match near to where I'm from. I don't think it will be bad, in fact I think it will be a good experience. I don't want to go out there thinking I'm under the spotlight. I want to stay calm. Every match is an examination, not just this one."
AFP
