After fifteen years of coaching experience, Gonzalo Quesada has decided the time is right for his maiden voyage as a national team head coach.

The former Argentina fly-half has formally assumed the role of Italy’s new head coach, succeeding Kieran Crowley after the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup. His initial challenge is to lead the team in their Guinness Six Nations opener against England in Rome.

Quesada is no stranger to international rugby, having previously served as a kicking coach for France from 2008 to 2011. During his tenure with the French team, they achieved a Grand Slam in 2010 and reached the World Cup final the following year. Quesada also contributed to the coaching staff of the Pumas under Mario Ledesma. Moreover, he guided Stade Français to a French Top 14 title in 2015.

Marzio Innocenti, the president of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), expressed unwavering confidence in Quesada’s capability to succeed Kieran Crowley. At Quesada’s official introduction, Innocenti remarked, “Gonzalo Quesada is a coach we selected because, despite his relative youth, he has amassed considerable experience. He possesses a meticulous attention to detail and was a part of the French staff that reached a World Cup final. Additionally, he led the Jaguares to a Super Rugby final and secured a title in the highly competitive French Championship. While we will not impose unrealistic objectives upon him, if the Federation is ambitious, Gonzalo’s ambitions match ours, which is why he is here as Italy’s new coach.”

During Crowley’s tenure, Italy evolved into an exhilarating attacking team, achieving significant victories, such as their historic win against Wales in Cardiff and a memorable triumph over Australia in 2022. Nonetheless, their World Cup campaign ended on a disappointing note, with successive heavy losses to New Zealand and France, preventing them from advancing to the quarter-finals.

Quesada closely followed these matches, as well as the performances of Benetton and Zebre Parma in domestic competitions. As he builds on Crowley’s foundation, Quesada’s initial priority is to establish a shared vision with his coaching staff and players. He emphasized the significance of grasping the culture of Italian rugby and the necessity of attentive listening and learning before persuading the players and staff to embark on this new journey.

Quesada characterizes himself as an Anglo-Saxon coach with a sharp focus on detail, but he maintains a Latin influence that he believes will aid him in comprehending Italian rugby. Although Italy’s playing style under his leadership may shift towards pragmatism compared to his predecessor, fans can anticipate that the team will retain elements of their free-flowing approach.

He stated, “I am genuinely fond of the current game plan. I am inclined toward an attacking philosophy that I believe aligns well with the Italian mindset. We must persist in refining and honing the fundamentals. My ideas are rooted in what I have consistently observed when facing Italy in the past – a resolute team proficient in scrums and defense, marked by indomitable spirit. We must advance along this trajectory and aspire to reach even greater heights. We may not be the most physically dominant team, and we cannot solely rely on strength, similar to South Africa or England. Instead, we must provide a multitude of options and play with pace. Modern rugby, both today and in the future, hinges on attacking play.”