Gonzalo Quesada Faces Mixed Emotions Coaching Italy Against Argentina
- Gonzalo Quesada and Contepomi are pitted against each other as coaches in a historic match.
- Italy and Argentina have a rich rugby history, with deep ties due to migration.
- The match highlights the success of both coaches in their first year, setting the stage for a competitive encounter.
On Saturday, Argentina will play against Italy, marking the first time they face an Argentine coach in test rugby. Gonzalo Quesada, who is currently Italy's coach, expressed his conflicting feelings about the match, acknowledging his loyalty to Italy while recognizing the significance of the occasion. This historic encounter occurs as relations between Italy and Argentina run deep, with many Argentine players choosing to represent Italy due to their Italian heritage. Both Quesada and his counterpart, Contepomi, are seasoned veterans of international rugby, having been pivotal players on the Argentine national team during the late 1990s. They have transitioned into coaching roles and achieved considerable success, with Italy enjoying their best Six Nations performance under Quesada and Argentina achieving a milestone in the Rugby Championship under Contepomi. The upcoming test match will be hosted at Stadio Friuli, a venue that will witness its second rugby test ever, as both teams vie to improve their records against one another.