The man behind that historic victory three years ago will face them again now in Udine: “Italy has grown. I want to take on the All Blacks again”
He was there three years ago. He was on the field, in the stands, at home, and even in front of the TV. In his hometown of Florence, Niccolò Cannone was everywhere—the most incredulous and moved of all at the final whistle of that historic 28-27 victory that the Australians still haven’t forgotten. And tomorrow in Udine—the first of three Test matches awaiting the Azzurri: South Africa on Saturday the 15th, Chile on Saturday the 22nd—they’ll be looking to avenge that loss right away.
Niccolò, let’s start from there, from November 12, 2022. What do you remember?
“Everything—I remember everything. I was a mess before the game, but in a way that’s almost beautiful, because it was the first time I’d played at home; there were a trillion friends and family members at the Franchi Stadium. And my brother Lorenzo was on the field too—something I never even dreamed of… Those are the kinds of emotions that sports—and only this sport—can give you.”
Have you been thinking back on that day as the Italy-Australia match approaches?
“Of course, I went on my phone to look back at the photos of that feat. Actually, I think about it all the time; after all, my smartphone’s wallpaper features the flag-wavers with Florence’s lily that I saw that day.”
Before rugby, he played soccer for nine years as a goalkeeper. Then he worked his way up through the youth ranks—the Accademia, Petrarca—and finally, since 2018, he’s been in Treviso. After the success in Florence, did you ever say to yourself, “I’ve made it”?
“Never. That victory was certainly an important milestone in my career, but I’m aiming much, much higher.”
Head Coach Quesada’s tenure is halfway through, with about 700 days left until the World Cup. Has his Italy team already taken shape?
“Right from the start. He’s always been very clear with us: we have to bring out our Italian spirit and our passion, and be an inspiration for children and beyond. That’s how we were able to quickly forge our identity. We’re in great shape now; we couldn’t wait to come together and show what we’re capable of, starting with Australia. We’ll have to do a good job of limiting their dynamism and their individual talents.”
In recent days, he also invited his friend, head coach Julio Velasco, to training camp…
“It was a very motivating meeting; I could have listened to him for hours without getting distracted. There was also time to ask a few questions, and I asked him how volleyball players train, along with other things that will remain between us.”
He usually gets emotional during the national anthem. How many of those tears stem from the influence of his first coach, “Ciafo” Ghelardi, and how many from an adolescence made difficult by his parents’ separation?
“It’s definitely a mix of emotions every time. The separation was a very tough time that helped me grow and strengthened my bond with my brother even more, but if it hadn’t been for my grandparents, it would have been much worse. Besides, I love my parents to pieces and I’m not at odds with anyone. As luck would have it, around the same time I met ‘Ciafo,’ the coach who—amid tears and head-banging against the wall—had the biggest emotional impact on me.“
Have you immortalized anything through tattoos?
”Yes, with an inscription on my side. I have eleven in total; I got the Maori-style ones in New Zealand, and others in a hut on the island of Samoa where the Tuilagi brothers also stayed. But most importantly, I got three quotes from Leonardo Pieraccioni’s *Il Ciclone* tattooed: ‘The rhythm is magic,’ ‘Feel it in your soul,’ and ‘Dos los ramatos! Tappamis!’
It’s also a great passion of another Florentine athlete, shot putter Leonardo Fabbri. Do you know each other?
“Not in person, but we’ve written to each other a few times to congratulate one another. I consider him a source of pride for Florence and Italy; I’d really love to meet him, maybe over a nice Florentine steak.”
Barbecues are another of his great passions. Along with hunting.
“And for my brother, it’s fishing. When we go back to Florence, it’s all about being out in nature, with friends and family. That’s just how we are—any excuse will do. But not in Treviso; there, I’m 100 percent focused on rugby, and besides, if I go into the woods, I’ll just end up getting lost…”
Between the two of you, is Lorenzo the one destined for greatness?
“I’d say so: he made his national team debut before me after just one year in the Eccellenza league. More than anything, he’s always been more athletic than me—I was a bit of a softie at first.”
You, however, were the first to be named one of the four Italian national team captains.
“I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by the head coach and my teammates; I hope to take on this role soon. When I look back, I think about not being called up for the match against Namibia at the last World Cup—that was certainly the toughest moment, but I was able to bounce back and even lead the team on our last tour in South Africa. And I’m still hungry for more.”
Italy recently defeated South Africa and Australia. Will they eventually manage to beat the All Blacks?
“It would be a dream. I’m a huge fan of the New Zealand team from a few years ago—the one with Sonny Bill Williams and Brodie Retallick—and I’d love to face them again.”
