With the help of Gonzalo Quesada, this was Italy’s 2024
The 2024 season began with the premiere of Gonzalo Quesada as Italy head coach on February 3 at the Rome Olympic and, after a year of competition, the Azurri closed a year where his consideration in world rugby changed by achieving his best historical performance in the Six Nations. Watch all the rugby on Disney+.
The first year of the Argentine coach as the main person responsible for the destinies of the Italian team culminated with five wins, one draw and five losses in 11 games. It is worth mentioning that his arrival occurred once the resignation of the New Zealander was known. Kieran Crowley after a poor performance in the World Cup France 2023 which prevented them from qualifying for the group stage.
Therefore, a new era began in early February when Italy was host of The Rose for the first date of the Six Nations. Despite having been defeated 27-24, the match showed substantial improvements and allowed them to obtain the smallest difference in history against the British. A week later, it was the turn of the duel against Ireland in Dublinwhere everything good seemed to fall apart when they suffered a resounding 36-0 defeat.
However, in a match that was a mystery to everyone and everyone, the Italian first team stood up and earned a 13-all draw against Franceyes Paolo Garbisi Had he been fine on the final play it could have resulted in victory. The fourth day will be indelible for Gonzalo Quesada. There, before Scotland achieved its first success in the continental tournament by 31-29. Likewise, the Azurra who already aroused admiration in the oval world, put the finishing touch to a tremendous performance with his 24-21 victory against Welsh in it Principality Stadium and generated its best location in the Six Nations (fifth place, 11 units).
Once the first phase of the year is over, it will be time for the international test matches. In this way, during the July window, oceanic and Asian rivals were the next obstacle. As in the previous competition, the Italians got off to a bad start. A defeat against Samoa in Apia by 33-25 It left them with a bitter taste. However, they quickly returned to the winning path with a good performance against Tonga which ended with celebrations for 36-14 in Nukuʻalofa. Finally, Eddie Jones’s Japan He fought against them, but quesada created a game plan that frustrated the advances of the Brave Blossoms and gave them their fourth joy in 2024 with Sapporo as headquarters.
The November window means the close of the season for the national teams and, despite dragging on for months of competition, the main Italian rugby team could not crumble, as it would face top-level opponents who would call into question all the steps forward it had taken. gave the team led by the 50-year-old Albiceleste coach, while at the same time they could increase the damage of those aspects of the game that remained unpolished.
In this way, on November 9 in the Friuli Stadium in Udine, The Pumas They were forceful and defeated the Azzurri team with a 50-18 victory. In a confrontation, where the European team had a hard time finding its footing and overcoming adversity, the Argentines imposed conditions and thanks to good work in the fixed formations, rucks and tackles accompanied by a great capacity for damage in the counterattacks that made the matchup difficult .
Subsequently, quesada was able to turn the page by beating 20-17 Georgia with Genoa as a setting. However, at the close of the calendar year, the All Blacks of Scott Robertson They traveled to the Allianz Stadium in Turin to do their thing. In a match marked by parity, it was the details and New Zealand experience that ended up tipping the balance for the men in black who took the victory 29-11.
