Italy v All Blacks: Teams
Italy fly-half Craig Gower has claimed his side believe they can push New Zealand all the way in Rome on Saturday.
Last Updated: 13/11/09 11:23am
Italy fly-half Craig Gower has claimed his side believe they can push New Zealand all the way in Rome on Saturday.
Australia-born Gower was part of the Azzurri side that sent down 27-6 to the All Blacks in Christchurch in June.
However, with the All Blacks making 12 changes to their line-up and an 80,000-strong crowd expected to roar Italy on at the San Siro, Gower is confident the side can build on that result.
"Every time you take the field there's an opportunity," said the former Penrith Panthers star.
"It's just how we approach the game. If we play to our plan and if everyone plays out of their skins, you never know what can happen.
"But you're not going to go out and predict we're going to win. We go in knowing what we have to do and hopefully we can do that."
Italy have made two changes to their side from that defeat, with Martin Castrogiovanni and Carlo Antonio del Fava coming into the pack.
Immense
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has opted to rotate his squad, with 12 changes to the side that beat Wales 19-12.
Fly-half Mike Delany, centre Tamati Ellison and wing Ben Smith will all make their debuts, while Tom Donnelly, Anthony Boric, Corey Flynn, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Luke McAlister and Andy Ellis also come into the line-up.
And Henry is looking to the likes of flanker Messam and centre McAlister to rise to the challenge.
"Everyone's got a point to prove every time they wear the All Blacks jersey but of those particular people, Liam will be very keen to make a point on Saturday," Henry said.
"He's a player of immense ability, he played exceptionally well at the level below and he will want to prove to the selectors that he can play equally well at test match level.
"Luke McAlister hasn't really found his feet since he's come back from Europe (he spent two years at Sale). He's had a number of injuries and I think he'll show on this tour that he will get back to his best and show what he can do.
"It's important for both people but it's also important for a lot of people."
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replpacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Ignacio Rouyet, 18 Antonio Pavanello, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Simon Picone, 21 Kristopher Burton, 22 Alberto Sgarbi
New Zealand: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Mils Muliaina.