piotr says...

Three or more years in the making. Nick Mallet is finally delivering an excellent game display with allegedly the best generation of Italian rugby players. We see finally play the ball wide and score tries also with backs. We are still to nurture a large basket of home grown quality players to pick from (but this goes beyond NM scope of work). We have always heard players sticking by NM and we finally appreciate the immense work he has done in these years. NM is an excellent professional, a very fine man and most of all committed to bring Azzurri to the next level. Come on Nick, come on guys, show the world all the Italian flair! Bring us to the last eight in the World Cup....

Posted 10:19 14th March 2011

carpelone says...

Well done, boys.

@ Parisse, keep things simple as you did yesterday and it is always going to be ok. Terrific displays from you, simple and effective, good leadershio in the crucial moments.

@ Nick Mallet. It must be said that Italy has vastly improved under your tenure. Italy won few games before, the impression was that was about isolated performence. The win yesterday and the nearly-wins against Ireland and Wales came with team that take all the points now against Italy, so they are more meaningful than for instance the two wins in 2007. Few headache ahead of you, how can you possibly bench Masi for the game with Scotland?

Back to the game, I think that Parisse, Zanni and Masi were outstanding, but that also Castro was immense.

I liked Benvenuti as well, who built the try nice with Sememzato, avoiding a risky off-load to Garcia. Cool head and well done.

Posted 08:51 13th March 2011