Azzurri bring in ex-Pumas playmaker

Italy coach Gonazalo Quesada has called up a former Argentina flyhalf ahead of Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against the Springboks in Turin.

Thirty-year-old Domingo Miotti has been included in a 33-man Azzurri squad.

The Montpellier No 10 qualifies through his Italian heritage, with the last of his 10 Test appearances for Argentina coming on 9 July 2022.

“It all started three years ago when I arrived in Italy,” Quesada explained. “He let me know that, having an Italian grandfather, he could represent the Italian national team.

“This year, we resumed contact. He explained that he would wait until July and that he would be happy to be considered for the Italian national team.

“Without making any commitments, we have explored this possibility.

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“Domingo is a great player and an excellent person. He has shown great motivation and, despite having the opportunity to represent both countries, he made this decision.

“We are happy to welcome him and believe this is the right time to get to know him and integrate him into the group. He was unavailable last week due to injury, but he can now resume training as normal.”

Miotti’s inclusion gives Quesada four flyhalf options, alongside Paolo Garbisi, Tommaso Allan and Giacomo Da Re.

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Italy also host Argentina and Fiji this month, before the finals weekend at Twickenham.

“One of the greatest challenges in the history of Italian rugby awaits us: four consecutive matches against four of the best teams in the world,” Quesada said.

“I have complete confidence in the players available. I’m confident that every player will seize this opportunity to demonstrate their value and the team’s character.”

Italy squad
Forwards: Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fishetti, Muhamed Hasa, Ion Neculai, Ivan Nemer, Giosuè Zilocchi, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Giacomo Nicotera, Niccolò Cannone, Mattia Midena, Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, Federico Ruzza, Lorenzo Cannone, Samuele Locatelli, Alessandro Ortombina, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani.
Backs: Alessandro Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco, Stephen Varney, Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi, Domingo Miotti, Leonardo Marin, Damiano Mazza, Federico Mori, Paolo Odogwu, Mirko Belloni, Ange Capuozzo, Matt Gallagher, Monty Ioane, Federico Zanandrea.
Invited players: Lorenzo Pani, Jaheim Noel Wilson.

Photo: Franco Arland/Getty Images