Preview - Italy v Fiji

Fiji look to end tour in style

For only the fifth time in their shared history, Italy play Fiji on Saturday afternoon - this time they meet in Monza, just up the road from Milan.

The four matches between the two countries had produced a 2-2 result, not much between the two. Italy have scored 125 points, Fiji 118.

Looking at this match and there is not a great deal of difference on the surface.

This month Fiji lost to Wales 11-10, but not a full Welsh side. Then Fiji beat Portugal 39-22, but it was not a full Fijian side.

Italy smashed Tonga 48-0 and then lost 39-22 to Argentina.

It's hard to draw comparisons between the Tonga result against Italy and their results earlier against Fiji for in those Pacific Island clashes the Pacific teams are often forced to perform without their players based abroad, but in the last match between the two Fiji beat Tonga 24-19.

Fiji have gone back pretty well to the side that performed so nobly against Wales. Italy on the other hand have changed much. Pierre Berbizier said that this would happen as he follows the vogue and rotates his squad of 30 players.

If the Wales result were a true one of full teams, the betting would be in favour of Wales. Even though Fiji led until near the end, they were well beaten up front.

This is where Italy, even without injured Andrea Lo Cicero, are likely to be stronger than their visitors.

Expecting dominance by his tight-five in all facets of forward play even without Lo Cicero, and expecting Fiji to be expansive, Berbizier has changed the structure of his loose forwards as well, going for speed rather than strength.

If the result is going to be determined by the boot, Italy have the more reliable kicker in Ramiro Pez with Rima Wakarua to back him up. Mind you, Fiji have a better kicker this time with Nicky Little at fly-half.

Fiji would expect to set their backs running. Gonzalo Canale was shown up a bit on defence and the Azzurri may well miss experienced, steady Cristian Stoica who took a knock to the head against the Pumas. On the other hand bringing fast and big Mirco Bergamasco in to outside centre with pacy Samuele Pace on the wing Italy look to be faster than the Fijians, even if less creative.

Italy are likely to have the edge in the calibre of opposition they regularly have. They play in the Six Nations and they can saunter off to New Zealand for a match. That sort of experience may well weigh heavily in their favour.

The match provides a poignant moment for Tappe Henning as he ends a great career as a Test referee.

Players to Watch: On the Italian side, you will see energetic Paul Griffen, hirsutely eccentric as he is, but you would do well to watch Sergio Parisse, the skilled young loose forward moved from flank to No.8, which may just be his better position. Of the Fijians, fullback Norman Ligairi has great ability and you will want to watch tall lock Ifereimi Rawaqa in the hope that he can replicate that wonderful try he scored against Wales.

Head to Head: Experienced Mauro Bergamasco, who ranges wide, against experienced Alifereti Doviverata who plays it close.

Previous results:

2001: Italy won 66-10 in Treviso
2000: Fiji won 43-9 in Suva
1999: Fiji won 50-32 in L'Aquila
1987: Italy won 18-15 in Dunedin in the World Cup

Prediction: It's not so easy, but what about Italy by ten?

The teams:

Italy: 15 Ezio Galon, 14 Samuele Pace, 13 Mirco Bergamasco, 12 Gonzalo Canale, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Paul Griffen, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami  (captain), 4 Carlo Del Fava, 3 Martin Leandro Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Matias Aguero
Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 Valerio Bernabò, 19 Maurizio Zaffiri, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21  Luciano Orquera 22 Rima Wakarua.

Fiji: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Mosese Luveitasau, 13 Epeli Ruivadra, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Kameli Ratuvou, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Mosese Rauluni (captain), 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Aca Ratuva, 6 Alifereti Doviverata, 5 Kelemete Leawere, 4 Ifereimi Rawaqa,  3 Apisai Nagi, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Josese Bale
Replacements: 16 Bill Gadolo, 17 Sikeli Gavidi, 18  Jone Qovu, 19  Kiniviliame Salabogi, 20 Mosese Volavola , 21 Aporosa Vata, 22 Maleli Kunavore

Date: 26 November 2005
Kick-off: 15.00 (local)
Venue: Stadio Brianteo in Monza
Expected weather conditions: Scattered clouds with a high of 7°C and a low of a shivering -7°C and a breeze freshening from the Alps of 7 km/h
Referee: Tappe Henning (South Africa)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Daniel Jabase (Argentina)
Television match official: Eric Darrière (France)