'When the Wasps fans see him they'll say 'he's small' but so is Kolbe and Jason Robinson'
Italy fullback and new Wasps signing Matteo Minozzi will signal the end of an 11-month battle to overcome a horrific knee ligament injury by facing Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on August 10 to prove he is ready to set the Rugby World Cup alight in Japan.
Coach Conor O’Shea believes Minozzi can become one of the stand out players at the World Cup thanks to a potent combination of pace and electric footwork drawing comparisons with Jason Robinson, England’s 2003 World Cup-winning wing, who is also 5ft 7ins tall. With Italy’s Cup pool including New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Namibia, O’Shea will need all of his attacking weapons fully fit.
Minozzi suffered the ACL knee injury playing for Zebre and it required two operations and a long period of rehabilitation to get the full back fit again and his return is also great news for Wasps who have signed the Italian to fill the void created by the departure of Wille le Roux, the Springbok fullback, who was such a key member of their attack.
Italy will spend next week in Limerick ahead of their first warm-up game against Ireland and they are also taking on Russia, France and England before heading to Japan. O’Shea, who yesterday confirmed Zebre captain Tommaso Castello is out of the Cup, cannot hide his excitement at having Minozzi back in the squad. The fullback scored four tries in five games and was nominated for the 2018 Six Nations Player of the Tournament.
Now, with ten tests to his name the 23-year-old Wasps fullback is aiming to become the latest “small guy” to make a big impression following in the bootprints of Robinson and Toulouse’s Cheslin Kolbe. O’Shea told RugbyPass: “Matteo will be on the bench against Ireland and he is the quickest player in our squad. He is a mercurial player who has worked so hard to get back from a horrific injury. He has his speed and agility back and everyone in rugby will be delighted to see Matteo back on the pitch.
“You get players like Matteo coming along every once in a while and he although he is not the biggest, he can do things others can’t. When the Wasps fans see him they will say “he’s small” but so is Kolbe and Jason Robinson. These guys remind you that it’s not all about being a big a bulldozer. Matteo is a boy who was born to play rugby and can see things other can’t. You cannot coach that – it’s what makes them special. Some players train like Tarzan and play like Jane. Matteo trains and plays like Tarzan.”
O’Shea is unhappy with the short turnaround between their opening two Cup games with Namibia and Canada and wants the situation addressed for future tournaments. “We face a colossal challenge in our Pool but If we can get our best XV on the park then on any given day we can take on anyone. We are not delusional and are third favourites to get out of our Pool but we have x-factor players like Minozzi, Jayden Hayward, Tommy Allan, Sergio Parisse and Jake Polledri .
“We have Namibia and Canada in the space of four days at the start of our Cup campaign and we know they will be targeting us. To prepare for the biggest event for any rugby player and have to play two games in four days is something that has to be looked at. We will be traveling for four or five hours after the Namibia match. This is the fittest Italian squad there has been and we had to start this at the beginning of June and across the board we are in a good situation.
“We will finalise when our 31 man squad for the World Cup will be named after we play Ireland and there is a lot riding on the match for some players. You want to give everyone a chance to impress and push for those last few places and those selections revolve around do you take 18 forwards and 13 backs or 17 and 14? The last three or four selections give energy and balance to the squad. It has been unbelievably hot here in Italy and it will go down a bit in Ireland next week.”
Members of the Italy squad based in Treviso took part in a training session with the England players and O’Shea was pleased with the outcome. He added: “ It was very worthwhile and unlike the session England did with Georgia earlier this year it didn’t end up in any brawling. Everyone was very well behaved.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
50 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments