logo
Italy test new combinations against South Africa in Pretoria

Italy test new combinations against South Africa in Pretoria

CNA03-07-2025
Italy have selected Giacomo Da Re at flyhalf and three debutants on the bench against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday, naming a side missing several regulars as coach Gonzalo Quesada looks to widen his talent pool at Loftus Versfeld.
Lock Niccolo Cannone will lead the team with tour captain Giacomo Nicotera missing out following a rib injury sustained in training. Loose forward Sebastian Negri, who spent much of his childhood in South Africa, also misses out with a niggle.
Da Re will add to his three caps as part of a halfback pairing with Alessandro Fusco, while Marco Zanon and Tommaso Menoncello are the two centres. Wings Simone Gesi and Louis Lynagh make up the back three with fullback Jacopo Trulla.
Hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo will pack down in the front row of the scrum with Danilo Fischetti and Simone Ferrari, while Cannone plays alongside fellow lock Andrea Zambonin, who returns from a long injury lay-off.
The back row of the scrum features number eight Lorenzo Cannone and flankers Alessandro Izekor and Manuel Zuliani.
Hooker Pablo Dimcheff, prop Matteo Canali and flanker David Odiase are all due to make their debuts off the bench after Quesada selected a 6-2 split between forwards and backs among his replacements.
South Africa have won 15 of their 16 tests against Italy and last hosted their opponents in 2013. The single Italian success came in the autumn of 2016 when they won 20-18 in Florence.
Italy team:
15-Jacopo Trulla, 14-Louis Lynagh, 13-Tommaso Menoncello, 12-Marco Zanon, 11-Simone Gesi, 10-Giacomo Da Re, 9-Alessandro Fusco, 8-Lorenzo Cannone, 7-Manuel Zuliani, 6-Alessandro Izekor, 5-Andrea Zambonin, 4-Niccolo Cannone (captain), 3-Simone Ferrari, 2-Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1-Danilo Fischetti
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

S Africa select young guns Brevis, Pretorius for Australia tour
S Africa select young guns Brevis, Pretorius for Australia tour

Straits Times

time11 hours ago

  • Straits Times

S Africa select young guns Brevis, Pretorius for Australia tour

Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Cricket - First T20 - South Africa vs Australia - Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban, South Africa - August 30, 2023 South Africa's Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Aaron Hardie REUTERS/Rogan Ward/File Photo Batters Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius have been included in South Africa's Twenty20 and One Day International squads for their white ball tour of Australia next month, as off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen earns a maiden limited overs call-up. South Africa play their hosts in three T20 matches between August 10-16 before a three-game ODI series from August 19-24. Subrayen, 31, recently made his test debut in Zimbabwe, as did Brevis, 22, and Pretorius, 19. All three players have been included in both limited overs squads. Having rested several regulars for the tri-series tournament in Zimbabwe this month that also includes New Zealand, South Africa have recalled Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs. Key all-rounder Marco Jansen misses out on the tour through injury. Markram will captain the T20 side, and Temba Bavuma will lead the ODI team. South Africa T20 squad: Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: Thailand, Cambodia clash with jets, rockets, artillery in deadly border row Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home Asia Vampire coach: Coercive blood sampling in school casts spotlight on Taiwan's 'obedient culture' Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: Dinesh Singapore What's key to a good life? Most Singapore residents choose emotional and mental well-being Singapore Over 2 years' jail for man who worked with wife to cheat her then boyfriend of $220k Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen and Rassie van der Dussen. South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Prenelan Subrayen. REUTERS

S Africa select young guns Brevis, Pretorius for Australia tour
S Africa select young guns Brevis, Pretorius for Australia tour

CNA

time11 hours ago

  • CNA

S Africa select young guns Brevis, Pretorius for Australia tour

Batters Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius have been included in South Africa's Twenty20 and One Day International squads for their white ball tour of Australia next month, as off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen earns a maiden limited overs call-up. South Africa play their hosts in three T20 matches between August 10-16 before a three-game ODI series from August 19-24. Subrayen, 31, recently made his test debut in Zimbabwe, as did Brevis, 22, and Pretorius, 19. All three players have been included in both limited overs squads. Having rested several regulars for the tri-series tournament in Zimbabwe this month that also includes New Zealand, South Africa have recalled Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs. Key all-rounder Marco Jansen misses out on the tour through injury. Markram will captain the T20 side, and Temba Bavuma will lead the ODI team. South Africa T20 squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen and Rassie van der Dussen. South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Prenelan Subrayen.

England teammates sing praises of young saviour Agyemang
England teammates sing praises of young saviour Agyemang

CNA

timea day ago

  • CNA

England teammates sing praises of young saviour Agyemang

GENEVA :England's newest hero Michelle Agyemang had her teammates singing her praises after her last-gasp equaliser saved the defending champions from certain elimination, saying the sky is the limit for the 19-year-old. Three months after she made her senior team debut, and four years removed from being a ball girl for her now teammates, Agyemang struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time against Italy on Tuesday en route to a 2-1 victory in extra time, the second consecutive game she has saved England at the brink. The Lionesses meet either Spain or Germany in the final on Sunday. "She's an unbelievable player and she's got the world at her feet, a young player with a bright future and I'm absolutely buzzing for her," said Chloe Kelly, who smashed home the rebound of her own penalty kick in extra time to secure the victory. Agyemang is a skilled bulldozer of a striker with a nose for the net and no fear of battling for possession. "You see it when she comes on," England defender Lucy Bronze said. "Defenders are petrified of her." "She feels inevitable right now," added captain Leah Williamson. A ball girl at Wembley for an England World Cup qualifier in 2021, Agyemang made her England senior debut three months ago against Belgium, scoring 41 seconds after she ran onto the pitch, the first of three goals in four caps. She said being mobbed by her teammates on Tuesday "will live in my heart forever". "It means the world to me. I'm so grateful," she added. "Four years ago I was a kid just throwing a ball to some of these girls and now I'm playing with them. It's a great opportunity and I'm so happy I am here." England coach Sarina Wiegman was certainly happy with her youngest Lioness on Tuesday. Agyemang, who also scored a late equaliser in their quarter-final win over Sweden, almost secured the victory in extra time at Stade de Geneve when her cute lob from a tight angle came back off the crossbar. "She has something special. She's only 19 years old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do," Wiegman said. "When we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well. Even when you saw her hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future." Agyemang's impact in England's two knockout games now has fans wondering whether the teenager will see more of the pitch in the final.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store