Negri, Vintcent living the Italian dream but haven't forgotten their South African roots as they tackle the Springboks

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 kick-off against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld.

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 baby-faced 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.”

Vintcent is originally from Joburg and moved to the Cape when he was in grade 10, where he encountered future Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

“Everyone knew Sacha would become a Bok,” he said. “When I arrived at Bishops, he was the biggest thing at our school. He had the confidence of a future Springbok, but he wasn’t arrogant. He did some amazing things at schoolboy level, stuff that was too good for the opposition.”

Negri was born in Zimbabwe, and his family suffered the trauma of the government’s brutal land reforms.

“It was hectic. I was still quite young. Dad came into the house one day and said, ‘Pack a small bag.’ We left home and never saw it again. We lost three farms in the space of a day or two,” Negri explained.

“In our time of crisis, our Italian family in Harare helped us massively. That is what makes it special every time I put on an Italy jersey. I know that I am not only representing myself and my close family, but the extended family that was there for us when we needed help. That makes it extra special for me.

“The big thing for my parents was to get us into the best schools, and South Africa was a good option,” Negri said. “I went to Clifton Prep in Nottingham Road. That is where my passion for rugby got going. I got a sports scholarship to Hilton, and the rugby grew and grew.

“I grew up as a Sharks fan, watching the likes of John Smit, Keegan Daniel and Butch James,” Negri recalls. “I watched the Sharks every weekend when I wasn’t playing sport. My dad and I would be the first in the queue at Kings Park to get tickets.”

Interestingly, both Negri and Vintcent were backline players at school level before moving to the forwards.

Negri was a fullback and flyhalf until the age of 15. “I’ve still got the moves!” Negri laughed while Vintcent rolled his eyes. “Those Hilton breakfasts and the SA food made me grow, and I went to the forwards.”

Vintcent, who plays for the Exeter Chiefs in England, said progress in the gym resulted in a switch to loose forward.

“I played scrumhalf and flyhalf until I got to Bishops, and Sacha was the flyhalf, so taking him out was a bit hard,” Vintcent chuckled. “So I played for the U16 B at flyhalf. In my matric year, the coach said, ‘Vintcent, you have been hitting the gym hard, how about transferring to No 8?’ I said, ‘Sure, I will give it a go.’

“We played Paarl Gim and narrowly lost. I loved it in the back row and it stuck.”

Vintcent studied for a degree in economics at Exeter University. Not long ago, he was delivering pizzas to augment his income. He learned the Italian national anthem by Google Translate, but is now close to fluent in Italian.

Negri has been in the Italy set-up since 2016. He was at Hartpury University in England at the time. He played against the Springboks in a fierce pool game at the 2019 World Cup.

“That was very physical!” Negri said. “I played them recently in Genoa, too. Physically, the Boks are the toughest team in world rugby.”

The Italians have had their challenges in the Six Nations but over the last two seasons are on the up under coach Gonzalo Quesada, the former Argentina flyhalf.

“I have been in the system for a long time. I see a bright future for the Italian national team. There is a core of young guys playing very good rugby. They will take the team forward,” Negri said.

“This tour to South Africa is about exposing younger guys to what it is like playing against the best. These Tests are like World Cup games — you are playing the best in the world. These two Tests in Pretoria and Gqeberha are about giving everything we can, and whatever happens, happens. It will be a great experience for everyone.

Vintcent adds, “I love playing as the underdogs. I prefer it when there is no expectation. You have nothing to lose and can express yourself. That makes us dangerous.”