Gonzalo Quesada may feel the Springboks are ripe for the picking and has bolstered his squad ahead of the second Test in Gqeberha.
The Azzurri boss called up 28-year-old uncapped hooker Giampietro Ribaldi from Zebre Parma. He joins the squad this week and is expected to train immediately.
Quesada: We challenged the Boks
The 1.86m, 110kg hooker has been knocking on the door of the Italian national team since 2021, when he made appearances for Italy ‘A’ and Emerging Italy. He’s backed up those performances with a strong 2024/2025 season in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
Italy head into the clash off the back of a 42-24 loss to South Africa at Loftus Versfeld, following a dominant opening win against Namibia in Windhoek.
Although Quesada has lauded his team’s resilience and passion, he’s acutely aware of the challenge the Boks will bring on Saturday.
“We know their level will rise significantly. They’re not happy with this game and will want to improve. But we also have room to grow and will take confidence from this,” said Quesada following the Loftus showdown.
Quesada has not yet given an update on the injury to No 8 Lorenzo Cannone, who was stretchered off the Loftus turf on Saturday with a suspected back injury.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Italy reinforced for Bok rematch appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.