Former Australian rugby league star Craig Gower will make his rugby union debut for Italy against Australia on Saturday.
Aussie to line-up against compatriots in Italy debut
Former Australian rugby league star Craig Gower will make his debut in international rugby union after being selected in Italy's side to face Australia in Canberra on Saturday.
The 31-year-old switched codes in 2007 to sign for French Top 14 club Bayonne, and will now go head-to-head with Aussie play-maker Matt Giteau after being selected at starting fly-half.
While Gower's inclusion is a major boost for an Italy side looking to snap an eight-match losing streak, the former Penrith skipper admits he is far from the finished product in the 15-man game.
"I'm still learning, I've got a hell of a long way to go," he said. "This is my fifth match playing fly-half so just looking forward to the opportunity. Obviously it's a big occasion.
"It's going to be a tough task for the team and for myself but obviously these challenges come to you and that's what sport's about - challenging yourself at the highest level, and this is a great occasion."
Miracles
Italy coach Nick Mallett is not expecting miracles from the former Kangaroos half-back.
"(In terms of) how he's going to go, obviously rugby union's a fantastic game and it all depends on the people around you," he said.
"If the people around you perform well you perform well so you can't look at a player in isolation, especially a number 10."
"What I'm looking for from him is just the confidence and the decision-making ability that every international number 10 has to have, as well as really good organisational skills in defence.
"Because the number 10 channel is one around which a lot of the backline defence is organised and if the number 10 is good and likes and enjoys that part of the game, it helps all the players inside and outside him.
Quality
"He's going to depend a lot on the quality of the ball that the forwards get and if the forwards manage to get some reasonable first-phase ball then we can judge whether or not he's got the ability to do the job."
Australia-born Luke McLean, who wore the number 10 jersey for the Azzurri for the bulk of their recent RBS 6 Nations campaign, moves to full-back to accommodate Gower's inclusion.
Gower is one of two debutants in the starting XV with lock Quintin Geldenhuys the other uncapped player named today.
Veteran number eight Sergio Parisse, one of five players in the squad boasting more than 50 Test caps, will lead the side into action.
Italy: Luke McLean, Kaine Robertson, Mirco Bergamasco, Matteo Pratichetti,
Alberto Sgarbi, Craig Gower, Pablo Canavosio; Salvatore Perugini, Leonardo
Ghiraldini, Fabio Staibano, Quintin Geldenhuys, Carlo Antonio Del Fava,
Alessandro Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: Franco Sbaraglini, Ignacio Rouyet, Marco Bortolami, Paul
Derbyshire, Tito Tebaldi, Kristopher Burton, Gonzalo Garcia.
