Negri, Vintcent living the Italian dream

TONIGHT two members of the Italian team will be forgiven if they have a tear in their eye during the South African national anthem before kickoff against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

Flanker Sebastian Negri and No 8 Ross Vintcent were schooled at Hilton College in the KZN midlands and Bishops in Cape Town, respectively, and while they could not be prouder to be wearing the blue of the Azzurri, they can’t deny their Mzansi roots.

Negri qualified for Italy through his Italian father, and Vintcent has an Italian grandfather.

I caught up with the pair at their Sandton hotel in Johannesburg between training sessions. The likeable pair are roommates, with the 31-year-old Negri — a veteran of 65 Tests — taking 23-year-old Vintcent under his wing.

The two spoke to Independent Media courtesy of manager Tom Negri of Octagon.

“It will be a bit strange hearing the SA anthem because I grew up watching the Boks every Saturday," the babyfaced Vinctent said. “Wherever I was in the world, I’d watch the Springboks and I would be singing the anthem.

“It will be a bit of a weird feeling,” Vintcent continued. “I am trying not to think about it too much and am focusing on the rugby, but it will be quite an emotional game for me.”

Negri added.”I grew up a massive Bok supporter and still am. Our job is to play for Italy, and I take huge pride in that privilege, but when Italy is not playing, I am a full-on Bok supporter.

“I will have a few goose bumps listening to the SA anthem because that is what we grew up listening to,” Negri added. “I also owe a great deal to South Africa. That makes it sentimental for me.”