Gonzalo Quesada, head coach 

On the talk of being expected to qualifying for the knockout rounds, partly because of the new 24-team format:

"For me it's quite easy because the way we work when we are on tour and have three games in a row, we don't have the capacity to do any calculations about what will happen next. We put all our energy towards preparing for the next game; having a good week and having a good first game, whoever it is against.

"I'm not super worried about the talk. I know our players will not underestimate Romania; they know how to prepare against Georgia because 99% of the players already played them in the last two games - two really tough battles. When you have these three challenges, there's not much room to think about what is next.

"Where I agree with you 100% is that, what will be floating in the air, is this the chance to qualify to go outside the pool games for the first time in history. That excitement could distract us, take the focus away from where it should be, so we have to be careful with that. But I know this group is experienced enough in big games not to get distracted by the emotional part.

On the physical challenge of South Africa, Georgia and Romania:

"After this year, when we played three times against South Africa, there was not one game where we didn't lose players from the pitch, so that's something I'm already thinking about. We know it's going to be three big battles. Romania is a Latin country with so much history with Italy - one of the teams we have played the most. There's a big relationship between Romania, Italy and France; it's a rugby culture that is super similar.

"It will be three physical battles, three styles that are not that different. Everyone will arrive at the top of their level. Maybe there would have been other teams that it would have been easier to prepare for. It will get us even more excited that it's a super-tough pool. If people had said to me, 'oh you were lucky with the draw', I would not sleep for two years."

Michele Lamaro, captain

On the reaction of the Italian front-row players to being draw in a group with scrummaging powerhouses South Africa and Georgia:

"Honestly, I've been sitting on the bus next to [Italy props] Simone Ferrari and Mirco Spagnolo. They've been sitting on the bus watching the draw with me. Obviously a very exciting one because they love to scrum and they love big challenges against the best. Drawing Georgia and South Africa is obviously very tough for them but they always look forward to the challenge. It's a massive thing - they were happy about that."

On the support Italy can expect with more than one million people in Australia having Italian ancestry:

"I hope there will be a lot of fans. It's a very long way from Italy, so it won't be like playing at home. We always get excited with a home crowd, but those who will be there, we'll feel their support, as well as those watching from home. Whoever will be there for us, there will be a massive connection. In a way, even more if there is 100 of 200 people there, it makes you feel them more. It matters a lot, and it means a lot to us."