Sport-Motors

(ANSA) - Udine, November 20 - Italy captain Sergio Parisse is braced for a torrid first 20 minutes against world champions South Africa Saturday.

"The first 20 minutes will be the toughest our team has ever played at international level," the No.8 told a press conference Friday.

Parisse said Italy expected the Springbok pack to launch a massive attack in the hunt for South Africa's first win in its autumn tour.

(supersedes previous).

(ANSA) - Venice, November 20 - An Italian mountaineer who conquered K2 in 1954 died on Friday, six months after the companion who stepped onto the world's second-highest peak for the first time with him.

Lino Lacedelli, who would have turned 84 on December 4, had a heart operation in the summer from which he never recovered, his family said.

His medical condition prevented him from attending the funeral of Achille Compagnoni, his fellow K2 hero, who died on May 13 aged 94.

The pair kept to their graves the secret of who actually stepped onto the top of K2 first.

(ANSA) - Rome, November 20 - Italy has held onto fourth position in FIFA's monthly standings, behind Netherlands in third, world soccer's ruling body said Friday.

Spain took over top spot from Brazil.

(ANSA) - Aosta, May 13 - An Italian mountaineer who conquered K2 in 1954 died on Friday, six months after the companion who stepped onto the world's second-highest peak for the first time with him.

Lino Lacedelli, who would have turned 84 on December 4, had a heart operation in the summer from which he never recovered, his family said.

His medical condition prevented him from attending the funeral of Achille Compagnoni, his fellow K2 hero, who died on May 13 aged 94.

(ANSA) - Rome, November 19 - Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin is refusing to return the silver medal he won in last year's Olympic road race in Beijing, stripped from him for doping earlier this week.

On Tuesday the International Olympic Committee said Rebellin had to give the medal back because he was eventually found to have used CERA, the latest generation of the blood booster EPO.

But on Wednesday the Italian veteran, who came second in Beijing to Samuel Sanchez of Spain, said he was hanging on to the medal, "at least for the moment".

(ANSA) - Rome, November 19 - Juventus are determined to beat a depleted Udinese Sunday to keep up the pressure on leaders Inter Milan.

"It's a decisive game for us and we have to try to win it," said keeper Gigi Buffon.

"I know they'll be missing key players, especially my Italy teammates (Antonio) Di Natale and (Simone) Pepe, but they'll be just as dangerous".

Buffon noted that Juve had dropped unexpected points at home, allowing Inter to move into a five-point lead.

"We can't afford to make any more slip-ups".

(ANSA) - Rome, November 19 - Italy coach Nick Mallett has made five changes for Saturday's test match with South Africa in Udine compared to the side that lost 20-6 to New Zealand in Milan.

Matteo Pratichetti comes in for Kaine Robertson on the wing while Alberto Sgarbi gets his first cap in the centre after four appearances as winger.

Simon Picone is picked as scrum-half.

Simone Favaro replaces flanker Mauro Bergamasco and hooker Fabio Ongaro gets his first start in a year.

(ANSA) - Milan, November 19 - Inter Milan defender Davide Santon had a successful meniscus operation Thursday, the club said on its website.

It did not say how long it will take Santon to recover but he is expected to be out for 5-6 weeks.

Santon, 18, sustained the injury during Italy Under-21's 4-0 friendly win in Luxembourg on Tuesday.

The defender is one of Italy's most promising young full backs and has played five times for the senior side but is getting little playing time at Inter.

(ANSA) - Pordenone, November 18 - Italy rugby coach Nick Mallet has named an unchanged 24-man squad for Saturday's test match against world champions South Africa in Udine. Mallett's decision was widely expected after last Saturday's strong performance in holding the All Blacks to a 20-6 win. The Springboks will be seeking their first win in their autumn tour after defeats to Leicester (22-17), France (20-13) and Saracens (24-23. Here is the squad: Forwards (14): Matias Aguero, Mauro Bergamasco, Martin Castrogiovanni, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Simone Favaro, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leo

(ANSA) - Cesena, November 18 - Juventus's Brazilian striker Amauri still has a shot at making Italy's World Cup squad, coach Marcello Lippi said Wednesday.

Amauri, 29, recently confirmed his interest in an Italy berth once he becomes an Italian citizen in March.

"I still have to complete the squad and I see no reason not to look at players I haven't been able to consider for one reason or another," Lippi told Italian state TV.

(ANSA) - Rome, November 17 - Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin must return the silver medal he won in last year's Olympic road race in Beijing, the International Olympic Committee said Tuesday.

The IOC's decision came after news in April that Rebellin had failed a test for CERA, the latest generation of the blood booster EPO.

Rebellin, 37, has been suspended since the April 29 news that CERA had been found in a re-tested blood sample.

Rebellin came second to Samuel Sanchez of Spain.

(ANSA) - Udine, November 17 - Italy are ready for the physical challenge posed by South Africa in the second of their three autumn tests Saturday, centre Mirco Bergamasco said Tuesday.

"The world champions like a physical battle and we're ready for it," said Bergamasco, as we showed against New Zealand," he said.

In front of a capacity crowd at San Siro last Saturday Italy competed well up front with the world's most famous team but a war of attrition and a couple of defensive lapses led to a 20-6 defeat - still one of Italy's best results against the All Blacks.

(ANSA) - Cesena, November 17 - Italy coach Marcello Lippi is using Wednesday's friendly against Sweden as another chance to fill in the few blanks in his squad when Italy defend its world crown in South Africa next year.

The World Cup-winning coach has made nine changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Netherlands on Saturday.

Livorno midfielder Antonio Candreva is confirmed along with Juventus stalwart Giorgio Chiellini.

Candreva, 22, impressed against the Dutch and has his eye on becoming a back-up midfielder for the World Cup Campaign.

(ANSA) - Rome, November 16 - Italy's anti-trust authority on Monday gave its green light to Fiat to acquire bankrupt chassis-maker Bertone.

The watchdog said that the operation did not give Fiat a dominant position which could have hindered competition in the sector.

Fiat's bid for Bertone won out over one presented by former Lancia CEO Gian Mario Rossignolo, who has since acquired the De Tomaso marque.

Bertone has in the past designed models for Fiat as well as its subsidiaries Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo.

(ANSA) - Turin, November 16 - Innovation in Auto Industry (IAI), a company owned by former Lancia CEO Gian Mario Rossignolo, announced on Monday that it had changed its name to De Tomaso Automobili.

The move came after IAI last week signed a preliminary agreement to acquire the De Tomaso automobile marque, five years after the automaker was first placed liquidation.