Italy and Pumas bid to end long losing streaks

One miserable streak will end this weekend.

Italy hosts Argentina in Treviso on Saturday with both teams desperate for an overdue taste of victory.

The Azzurri are on a 15-match losing streak since the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Pumas’ streak has grown to seven consecutive tests since July, including a winless Rugby Championship.

Neither team cares at this point about how they look on the field. They just want to win.

“We are going to do what we have to do to win,” Argentina center Matias Moroni said.

“If we have to play ugly, we will play ugly. If it suits us to play cute, we will do that. It will depend on what we set out to do to win.

“Some criticize South Africa’s (kick-first, power) game but they win. Others play cute and lose. There’s a way to play cute and a way to win.”

Argentina had the right attitude and played tough last weekend and gave France a scare in Paris before succumbing 29-20. Argentina defended well, but struggled to retain possession and was out-kicked and edged at the breakdown in its European tour opener.

Moroni believed they can’t afford to think about their losing streak.

“If you keep thinking about what has happened, you put pressure on yourself and it makes no sense,” he said. “We will try to improve our game and try to win. There is nothing more beautiful than winning.”

Kieran Crowley, Italy’s third coach in its streak, agreed.

He took some positives -- notably an aggressive defense -- from his first match in charge, the predictable 47-9 loss to New Zealand in Rome last weekend, and is keen to see lessons being heeded this weekend.

“Among our aims, apart from getting positive results, is also that of creating a precise identity and gaining respect on an international level,” Crowley said. “Those factors came out strongly.

“We’ve marked a line in the sand and now we want to look forward. We are at the beginning of a process which will continue its development against Argentina and Uruguay (next week).”

While their matchup has been one-sided towards the Pumas since 2008, the teams have maintained a strong relationship.

Argentina features Italy-based props Thomas Gallo, facing nine of his Benetton teammates, and Eduardo Bello.

Italy includes two former Argentina junior representatives, prop Ivan Nemer making his first test start and center Juan Ignacio Brex, who played with Moroni in the Pampas XV.

“I’m quite a serene person, I have a calm approach to matches, not nervous,” Ignacio Brex said. “There will be a bit of emotion but I think above all it will be good to see some ex-teammates.

“It will be a battle. Welcome!”

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Lineups:

Italy: Matteo Minozzi, Edoardo Padovani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Luca Morisi, Montanna Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Giovanni Licata, Michele Lamaro (captain), Sebastian Negri, David Sisi, Niccolò Cannone, Marco Riccioni, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Ivan Nemer. Reserves: Luca Bigi, Danilo Fischetti, Pietro Ceccarelli, Marco Fuser, Federico Ruzza, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro Fusco, Federico Mori.

Argentina: Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Cordero, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Tomas Cubelli; Facundo Isa, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pablo Matera; Tomas Lavanini, Marcos Kremer, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (captain), Thomas Gallo. Reserves: Facundo Bosch, Ignacio Calles, Santiago Medrano, Lucas Paulos, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Bertranou, Nicolas Sanchez, Lucio Cinti.

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