Italy A play Romania
Not long ago Italy would be playing Romania but such is the change in Italy's rugby fortunes that now it is the A team which ill play Romania on Friday evening.
Italy A have a number of players who have played full internationals but few of them. Valerio Bernabò has most caps - 13. The players already capped for Italy are Andrea Bacchetti, Valerio Bernabò, Paolo Buso, Lorenzo Cittadini, Paul Derbyshire, Enrico Patrizio, Roberto Quartaroli and Michele Rizzo
The Romanians are older and much more experienced. Italy A all play their club rugby in Italy. Ten Romanians play their club rugby abroad.
Teams
Italy A squad: Andrea Bacchetti (Femi-CZ Rovigo), Valerio Bernabò’ (Futura Park Rugby Roma), Riccardo Bocchino (Femi-CZ Rovigo), Paolo Buso (Futura Park Rugby Roma), Lorenzo Cittadini (Benetton Treviso), Tommaso D’Apice (Futura Park Rugby Roma), Paul Derbyshire (Petrarca Padova), Davide Giazzon (Rugby Parma 1931), Edoardo Gori (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato), Francesco Minto (Rugby Parma 1931), Enrico Patrizio (Petrarca Padova), Andrea Pratichetti (Femi-CZ Rovigo), Roberto Quartaroli (Rugby Parma 1931), Michele Rizzo (Benetton Treviso), Lorenzo Romano (Rugby Parma 1931), Plinio Sciamanna (MPS Viadana), Fabio Semenzato (Benetton Treviso), Manyvydas Tveraga (Rugby Parma 1931)
Romania squad: Petrisor Toderasc (Brive), Dragos Dima (Oloron), Silviu Florea (Montauban), Paulica Ion (London Irish), Marius Tincu (Perpignan), Andrei Radoi (Baia Mare), Valentin Ursache (Baia Mare), Augustin Petrichei, Cristian Petre (Béziers), Ovidiu Tonita (Perpignan), Stelian Burcea (Dinamo), Mihai Macovei (Baia Mare), Teodor Buzatu (Baia Mare), Vasile Rus (Steaua), Sergiu Ursache (Venezia), Lucian Sîrbu, Valentin Calafeteanu (Dinamo), Florin Eva (Baia Mare),Iulian Dumitras (Albi), Dan Dumitru (Oyonnax), Gal Csaba (Dinamo), Robert Dascalu (Steaua), George Catuna (Baia Mare), Catalin Fercu (Arad), Florin Vlaicu (Steaua), Ionut Botezatu (Baia Mare),
Coaches: Robert Antonin, Serge Lairle.
Date: Friday, 13 November 2009
Kick-off: 19.00 (CET)
Venue: Stadio Walter Beltrametti, Piacenza
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Local