INTERNATIONAL RUGBY: Tongans in Italy

19.11.2010
Tonga v Italy 'A' in Biella

Venue: Vittorio Pozzo

Referee:

Preview
Sadly no test caps for Tonga in this match. The Italian 'A' side has a good record over the last few seasons. They have a number of test players in the side including 84 test veteran Bortolami.

Tonga will be struggling to hold the Italians and compete in the forwards. Tonga's unpredictability and individualism in the backs will be the main worry for this Italian side.

Tonga's most famous encounter with an Italian side was the 28-25 victory over the full side at Leicester at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Prediction: Italy 'A' by 14 points

Teams

Italy 'A'
15 Andrea MARCATO (Benetton Treviso, 16 caps)
14 Matteo PRATICHETTI (Aironi Rugby, 22 caps)
13 Andrea PRATICHETTI (Benetton Treviso)*
12 Gonzalo GARCIA (Benetton Treviso, 18 caps)
11 Michele SEPE (Benetton Treviso, 3 caps)
10 Kristopher BURTON (Benetton Treviso, 5 caps)
9 Fabio SEMENZATO (Benetton Treviso)
8 Valerio BERNABO’ (Benetton Treviso, 15 caps)
7 Simone FAVARO (Aironi Rugby, 6 caps)*
6 Francesco MINTO (Benetton Treviso)
5 Marco BORTOLAMI (Aironi Rugby, 84 caps)
4 Antonio PAVANELLO (Benetton Treviso, 5 caps) - capitano
3 Ignacio ROUYET (Benetton Treviso, 7 caps)
2 Franco SBARAGLINI (Benetton Treviso, 5 caps)
1 Matias AGUERO (Aironi Rugby, 17 caps)
a disposizione
16 Andrea MANICI (HBS GranDucato Parma)*
17 Alberto DE MARCHI (Aironi Rugby)
18 Massimiliano RAVALLE (Femi-CZ Rovigo)*
19 Gabriele CICCHINELLI (Futura Park Rugby Roma)*
20 Luca PETILLO (Estra I Cavalieri Prato)*
21 Tito TEBALDI (Aironi Rugby, 14 caps)
22 Giulio RUBINI (Aironi Rugby, 4 caps)
Coaches: Gianluca Guidi and Giampiero De Carli

*è/è stato membro dell’Accademia FIR “Ivan Francescato”

http://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2110:italia-a-un-xv-da-magners-league-per-il-match-contro-tonga&catid=110:italia-a&Itemid=416

Tonga squad not available