Latest news with #Quesada
Reuters
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Angry Quesada rues Italian discipline in narrow loss to Ireland
ROME, March 15 (Reuters) - Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada was angry at his side's self-inflicted wounds in their 22-17 loss to Ireland in the Six Nations on Saturday after two yellow cards and a red for the hosts left them outnumbered for much of the game. Italy were brave in defence and had incisive moments in attack, but endured a 20-minute red card for Ross Vintcent and yellows for Michele Lamaro and Giacomo Nicotera, in a display that lacked discipline and caused the hosts to play for more than half an hour with 14 players. "Reality says we could have won and so we are very disappointed that we did not succeed," Quesada said. "I'm very angry, before coming to speak (to the media) I had to calm down. I told the team that this scenario could present itself and that we would have to be ready to take it. "If we had done a few minutes less with 14 (players, we could have won). But the cards are there. It's still a good Six Nations, but it could have ended in an incredible way." Italy stretched Ireland on several occasions but in defence were short of numbers that allowed the visitors to score soft tries, including two from driving mauls. "We are proud of our game, 15 against 15 we dominated for long stretches, we played much better than the last two games,' Quesada said. "We made this Ireland side, who came here to win the Six Nations, look like a normal team, putting heart and character on the field. "I'm disappointed not to have won, today remains a bad feeling, but I'm sure that with a cool head, we will be able to turn it into a positive moment of growth." Italy finished the Six Nations with five points from their five matches, their single win a 22-15 victory in Wales.
Telegraph
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Italy v Ireland: Score and Six Nations latest
1:51PM Irish fans out in force I swear, the first words heard getting out of a taxi near the ground on arriving near the Stadio Olimpico were 'it's like a f------ invasion'. It's a good point - thousands upon thousands of Irish fans are in town for this one, green shirts as far as you can see. Conditions are muggy, hopefully the thunderstorms hold off. 1:49PM Italy strong in the tackle The Azzurri have made the most dominant tackles (66) and the joint-most turnover-winning tackles (12, level with Wales) of any team in this year's championship. Meanwhile, Simon Easterby's side rank bottom for dominant tackles (33) and turnover-winning tackles (7). 1:47PM Head to head Ireland have dominated this fixture, winning 24 of their 25 Six Nations games against Italy. Italy's only triumph came in 2013 as they beat Ireland 22-15 in Rome, meaning they finished fourth in the table, ahead of Ireland in fifth. Their 36-0 defeat in Dublin last year was the first time they have been whitewashed by Ireland. 1:43PM Quesada on dropping his captain Italy head coach Goncalo Quesada on dropping captain Michele Lamaro: 'Manuel Zuliani deserved the opportunity from the first minute and at the same time we want to have greater leadership on the pitch in the final stages of the game. 'The match develops over 80 minutes and the contribution of all the players on the match list will be fundamental.' 1:39PM Got a question for James Haskell and Mike Tindall? Ask it here and come back on Monday lunchtime for the answer. 1:37PM Easterby on Crowley selection On selecting Jack Crowley at 10 and links with a move to Leicester Tigers, Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby: 'Jack knows how important he is to us. Regardless of selection across the last four games, he understands the role that he has and the standing he has in the group. 'He's a great pro, he's always looking to get better and we believe that for him to keep getting better, keeping getting experiences at this level and keep driving us forward as a team and being competitive in the number 10 position in particular, it's important that he obviously plays his rugby in Ireland. 'And we are confident that will continue to happen.' 1:33PM Elsewhere on Super Saturday Shortly after the action concludes in Rome, England will stake their claim for the title as they travel to the Principality to face a Wales side looking for their first Test win in 17 games and their first Six Nations triumph in 11. Following this, current leaders France will look to wrap up the title as they host Scotland in Paris, knowing now a bonus-point victory will guarantee them top spot. 1:29PM The scene in Rome 1:27PM Campaigns so far Italy's only victory of this year's Six Nations came on the second weekend of action when they beat Wales 22-15 in Rome. This came after a 31-19 defeat away against Scotland on the opening weekend and has been followed by heavier defeats against France and England. Ireland, meanwhile, looked on course for a third successive title and a potential Grand Slam as they picked up the Triple Crown with hard-fought wins over England, Scotland and Wales to start their campaign. However, a 42-27 defeat at home to France last time out destroyed any hopes of a Grand Slam and has seen them slip from pole position in the race for the title. 1:24PM Ireland in the building Checked in! 👋 #TeamOfUs — Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 15, 2025
Reuters
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Italy captain Lamaro benched among seven changes for Ireland clash
March 13 (Reuters) - Italy captain Michele Lamaro has been dropped to the bench against Ireland, with head coach Gonzalo Quesada making seven changes for their final game of the Six Nations on Saturday. Lamaro has started the last 24 Six Nations matches but the flanker has been replaced by Manuel Zuliani, who came off the bench in the last four games and last started a Six Nations fixture last year against Ireland. "The match develops over 80 minutes and the contribution of all the players on the match list will be fundamental," Quesada said. "Zuliani deserved the opportunity from the first minute and at the same time we want to have greater leadership on the pitch in the final stages of the game." Centre Juan Ignacio Brex takes over as captain for the second time, having worn the armband last November against New Zealand when Lamaro was out injured. With Matt Gallagher suffering a knee injury on his Six Nations debut in the 47-24 defeat by England last Sunday, Ange Capuozzo returns to the wing, which brings Tommaso Allan back into the side at fullback. Scrumhalf Martin Page-Relo comes back in, replacing Stephen Varney while Lorenzo Cannone retakes the number eight shirt from Ross Vintcent who scored a try against England. There are two changes in the front row, Gianmarco Lucchesi and Simone Ferrari coming in for Giacomo Nicotera and Marco Riccioni, while lock Dino Lamb replaces Niccolo Cannone. Italy will be hoping to avoid bottom place and the wooden spoon for the second successive year, but despite their sole win this championship coming against Wales, Quesada's side are still just one point ahead of the Welsh, who play England. The Italians, who suffered heavy back-to-back defeats against France and England, will aim to finish off their campaign in style in front of a sold out Stadio Olimpico, where there are sure to be large numbers of Ireland fans. Those travelling Irish would have hoped, and possibly expected, to be able to celebrate a Grand Slam in the Italian capital on St. Patrick's weekend, but last Saturday's crushing 42-27 loss to France in Dublin put paid to those plans. Ireland will aim for a bonus point win to give themselves a chance of winning a third consecutive title, but they would still need France and England not to win their games. 15-Tommaso Allan, 14-Ange Capuozzo, 13-Juan Ignacio Brex (captain), 12-Tommaso Menoncello, 11-Monty Ioane 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Martin Page-Relo, 8-Lorenzo Cannone, 7-Manuel Zuliani, 6-Sebastian Negri, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Dino Lamb, 3-Simone Ferrari, 2-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1-Danilo Fischetti Replacements: 16-Giacomo Nicotera, 17-Mirco Spagnolo, 18-Giosue Zilocchi, 19-Niccolo Cannone, 20-Michele Lamaro , 21-Ross Vintcent, 22-Stephen Varney, 23-Leonardo Marin
Khaleej Times
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Oscars 2025: A flight to glory for Adrian Quesada and 'Like a Bird'?
As a child, Adrian Quesada dreamed of success at the MTV Video Music Awards, but now, he is on an even bigger stage — with an Oscar nomination. The American musician with Mexican roots hopes the presence at the Academy Awards of someone from the Texas border town of Laredo will serve as an inspiration for other people from minority communities. "Representation, I think, in the arts, is a big thing," Quesada said in Los Angeles as he promoted his powerful track Like a Bird from the prison drama Sing Sing — a nominee for the best original song prize. "If I'm a young kid watching MTV or watching movies or watching TV, when you actually see people that look like you out there, people that you know come from your culture, it inspires the next generation." The Black Pumas guitarist co-wrote and performed Like a Bird, which closes the film, with singer Abraham Alexander. The nomination is one of three for Sing Sing, which tells the true story of Divine G (Colman Domingo), a wrongfully convicted inmate who finds an outlet in a prison theatre group. Former prisoners who participated in the real-life drama programme performed in the film, which was directed by Greg Kwedar. Domingo is nominated for best actor, and the script is vying for best adapted screenplay honors. Quesada and Alexander did not have their sights set on Hollywood's glitzy awards season when they signed up for the film, and Quesada admits that it has been "surreal" to be caught up in Tinseltown's annual jamboree. "It's still something that is hard to process," he said. "I still sometimes wake up and can't believe that." Quesada is no stranger to plaudits, earning multiple Grammy nominations during his long career and winning one golden gramophone for his work with Austin-based Latin funk outfit Grupo Fantasma. But he admits a nod from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is something special. "The Academy Awards just seemed like such a different world," he said. True story Like a Bird will face some stiff competition at the Oscars on March 2. Other nominees are El Mal and Mi Camino from the narco musical Emilia Perez; Never Too Late from the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late; and The Journey from The Six Triple Eight by veteran composer Diane Warren, who has never won in the category despite being nominated 15 previous times. For Quesada, who says he firmly believes in second chances and rehabilitation through the arts, taking part in the project was an invitation he found impossible to refuse. The importance of seeing prisoners as more than their crimes has been highlighted by their role in helping to quell the huge wildfires that tore through Los Angeles last month, with inmate crews working alongside firefighters. "You have prisoners... fighting fires for people and then having to go back to prison... fighting these fires for homes that they can't even afford," said Quesada. "I think this film really brings to light a lot of humanity." Taking part in Sing Sing was not without obstacles, especially when it came to finding time when both he and Alexander were available. "It was like we were never even in the same room to do it," he laughed. "He came into my studio, but I was out of town, and then he left, and I came back." Winning an Oscar would be "a great honour," admits the guitarist. "We believe in our song, but I think we're part of a big picture here, which is the film's message," he said.
Reuters
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Italy coach hails win over Wales as turning-point
ROME, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Italy overcame difficult odds and made a major step forward with a disciplined victory over Wales in the Six Nations, their coach Gonzalo Quesada said after the 22-15 win on Saturday. "Today is an important day for this squad. We played at home and had the pressure of starting as favourites and had to face a difficult match because of the weather because we are a team that likes to attack and play with the ball," Quesada told a news conference at a rainy Stadio Olimpico. "This is a point of evolution for the team and that makes me very happy. With this weather, the game was played where it had to be played, with discipline the key. "We had consistency and pragmatism to play a different type of rugby, which is not what we like, but it was the type of rugby that had to be played today," he added. Quesada has made it clear in the past that improving Italy's prospects is a long-term project. They avoided the wooden spoon in the last Six Nations and won two of their five fixtures for a first time. "We are working on the mentality, the identity, emphasizing the ability to attack even without the ball in hand. This is an evolutionary process," he said. Next up for Italy are France, who they narrowly failed to beat last year, in Rome on February 23. "We haven't started looking at France yet but they will be a very different challenge because they are a team with different characteristics to Wales; they are heavy, but also slow in reloading," Quesada said. "We'll bring a lot of confidence and serenity, we have taken a big load off our shoulders with this win. Nobody expects us to do anything against France and this could yet prove an advantage for us."
