Paris's Pumas and Azzurri leave in haste
Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:57
Leading the Azzurri: Sergio Parisse
Now that Stade Français have been knocked out of the Top 14, the club's Italian and Argentinian internationals have left Paris in haste to join their national teams.
This Saturday Argentina play Italy in Cordoba and club mate will be pitted against club mate.
The Pumas who have headed for Buenos Aires are Juan Martin Hernández, Pedro Ledesma, Ignacio Corleto and Rodrigo Roncero.
Azzurri, who have flown off to join their compatriots are Sergio Parisse and the Bergamasco brothers, Mirco and Mauro.
Italy coach Nick Mallett said No.8 Parisse would regain the captain's armband from Leonardo Ghiraldini, who was the stand-in skipper when Italy lost 0-26 to South Africa in Cape Town at the weekend.
Flank Mauro Bergamasco returns for the Azzurri after he was banned for 17 weeks for deliberately placing his finger in the eye of Wales fullback Lee Byrne during February's 8-47 Six Nations defeat in Cardiff.
"Mauro Bergamasco has not played very much over the last few months because of the ban and I think he can combine athletic freshness with a desire for redemption," Mallett said.
It is a big boost for an inexperienced Italy team and news that has delighted Mallett.
"Sergio is a fundamental point of reference for this team and was the second best player in the last Six Nations," Mallett said.
"I believe that any national team, including the All Blacks would want to have a No.8 like him.
"Leonardo Ghiraldini did fantastically well as captain against South Africa, but on Saturday the armband will return to Parisse."
Mallett said he hoped that the team who took the field in Cape Town maintain their progress and don't just rely on the more experienced heads.
He is also aware that Argentina will benefit from a number of players whose teams were eliminated from the Top 14 semifinals as well - notably the Stade Francais flyhalf, Hernandez, and the fullback, Coreto.
"To get Sergio, Mauro and Mirco back for such an important and difficult match is extremely crucial for us, but I remain convinced that in the match against the Springboks the team did fantastically well considering who was missing and who we were playing," Mallett said.
"Now we must move on to beat Argentina and having three of the starting players from the Six Nations will definitely help even if, like us, the Pumas will also be reinforced by players from Stade Francais and Perpignan."
AFP
