Italy sensation as Kirwan drops Pez from World Cup squad
Pez had been the first-choice fly-half since Diego Dominguez departed the Italy scene.
And although Dominguez has reportedly refused an offer to return, Pez was still omitted from the squad.
The decision effectively leaves Italy without a recognised goalkicker of international calibre.
Italy manager Marco Bollesan explained: “We had placed our faith and our hopes in Pez but, for one reason or other, he did not reach the height of our expectations or what we demanded.
“The boy clearly has great potential but on the pitch he has not managed to express it.
“We decided it was too great a risk to put our faith in him for the World Cup.”
Instead, Italy have given a surprise call-up to New Zealand-born Rima Wakarua who plays for Leonessa Brescia.
Bollesan said: “We thought about Wakirua at the last minute and he was already under observation as he has played in Italy for four to five years, speaks fluent Italian and is making an Italian family.
“He is proud to wear the blue jersey and has a month to get used to playing for the team.”
Although, Kirwan can only name 30 players for the World Cup he has listed a squad of 31 to go to Australia.
The Italian Rugby Federation explained that one will go as cover although it did not reveal who it would be
The Bergamasco brothers Mauro and Mirko are both included with Mauro listed in his preferred position as a flanker.
Kirwan’s attempt to convert the elder brother into a winger caused a tense stand-off between the coach and a player considered by many the hottest talent in Italian rugby.
lScotland coach Ian McGeechan has omitted Brendan Laney from his World Cup squad to play in Australia next month.
The New Zealand-born player, who was controversially fast-tracked into the side two years ago, has been struggling with a leg injury suffered in Edinburgh Gunners’ defeat at the weekend.
The other surprise in the Scottish squad is the inclusion of Borders wing Nikki Walker, who had originally appeared to have missed his chance when he was dropped to the Under-21 side ahead of the RBS 6 Nations at the start of the year.
lNew Zealand’s preparation for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, which gets under way next month, hit a snag this week when extreme weather conditions forced them to change their training plans. The All Blacks’ training camp in Gisborne had to be cancelled, because of the local weather and ground conditions.
All Blacks Manager Tony Thorpe said that the current weather and long range forecast meant that the team’s training would be compromised and the team had to unfortunately cancel the planned visit to Gisborne.
lFrance coach Bernard Laporte has made nine changes to the side humiliated 45-14 by England for their final World Cup warm-up match against the French Barbarians at Narbonne on Saturday.
Laporte has brought back his first-choice pack and recalled fly-half Frederic Michalak for Gerald Merceron.
Scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili, so disappointing at Twickenham, gets another run-out in the place of captain Fabien Galthie who will lead the Barbarians.
France have been re-named a President’s XV to get round the IRB rule prohibiting all matches in the month preceding the World Cup.
President’s XV: Poitrenaud, Rougerie, Jauzion, Liebenberg, Dominici, Michalak, Yachvili; Harinordoquy, Magne, Betsen, Thion, Pelous (capt), Marconnet, Ibanez, Crenca.
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