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Craig Gower admits to feeling more nervous about making his Test rugby debut for Italy on Saturday than when he played State of Origin rugby league for NSW or donned the green and gold for the Kangaroos.
But he is anything but overawed by the prospect of going head to head with Wallabies superstar Matt Giteau, widely considered the world’s premier five-eighth.
Italian coach Nick Mallett on Thursday assigned Gower to one of the toughest gigs in international rugby when he named the 31-year-old former NRL premiership winner to oppose Giteau at Canberra Stadium.
Gower’s maiden Test will also be just his fifth match at flyhalf after spending most of his two seasons in the 15-a-side game lining up at inside centre for Bayonne in the French Top 14 competition.
“I suppose you can look at it both ways – it can be daunting but it’s a great challenge,” Gower said.
“So I’m going to go in there positive. It’s a great yardstick to come up against and obviously I’ll hear the brunt of it at the end of the game if I’m no good.
“So it works both ways, but I’m just grateful for the opportunity to play against such a great player in Matt.” The feeling is mutual, with Giteau bracing himself for “a big test as well”.
“It will be a big challenge for me. He’s been playing some good rugby in that French competition and I’m sure he can bring a lot more to this Italian side.
“He’s quite strong defensively, he takes the ball to the line quite well and he’s also got a nice little step as well.”
“He’s just one of 15 or 22 we need to watch closely but obviously me, positionally, I’ve watched him a bit closer than the rest of the team.”
Gower led Penrith to their 2003 NRL grand final win over the Sydney Roosters before once captaining the Kangaroos, ironically in France, in a 2005 Tri Nations Test, but expects more butterflies playing for the Azzurri.
“I’d say there would be more nerves because it’s the unknown for me and it’s the next step for me,” he said.
“I’m still learning. I’ve got a hell of a long way to go and obviously it’s going to be a big occasion.
“It’s a tough task for the team and myself but obviously these challenges are what sport is about; challenging yourself at the highest level.
“I suppose I could be under pressure but I’ve played in some big games before and there’s always pressure to perform.
“You’re judged by the way you play.” Even coach Mallett conceded he was unsure how Gower – whose knowledge of the Italian language is restricted to backline calls – would handle the occasion.
“It’s a new experience for him and you must understand he might have a reputation as a very good rugby league player in Australia, but that means nothing to the rugby players in Italy,” Mallett said.
“What matters to the Italian team and to the management is that he can perform and fit in as best as possible into the Italian set-up.
“What I’m looking for from him is just the confidence and his decision-making ability that every international No.10 has to have, as well as really good organisational skills and defence.
“No.10 channel is where a lot of the backline defence is organised and, if the No.10 is good and likes and enjoys that part of the game, it helps all the players inside and outside of him.
“How he’s going to go? Well obviously rugby union is a fantastic game but it all depends on the people around you.
“If people around you perform well, you can perform well.
“You can’t look at a player in isolation, especially a No.10. He’s going to depend a lot on the quality of ball that the forwards get and, if the forwards manage to get some reasonable first-phase ball, then we can judge really whether he’s got the ability to do the job or not.”
Gower qualifies for Italy through his maternal Italian grandfather Emilio, who hails from the Umbrian town of Gubbio.
Italy: Luke McLean, Kaine Robertson, Mirco Bergamasco, Matteo Pratichetti, Alberto Sgarbi, Craig Gower, Pablo Canavosio. Forwards: Sergio Parisse (capt), Mauro Bergamasco, Alessandro Zanni, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Quintin Geldenhuys, Fabio Staibano, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Salvatore Perugini. Res: Franco Sbaraglini, Ignacio Rouyet, Marco Bortolami, Paul Derbyshire, Tito Tebaldi, Kristopher Burton, Gonzalo Garcia.
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