Sergio Parisse believes that Italy are on the right track after some impressive performances during the November Internationals.
Italy open their 2012 campaign by facing France in Rome, with the corresponding fixture two years ago against Les Bleus resulting in their most famous victory to date, an outcome that Parisse would love to repeat.
"Two years ago, France lost not because we were the better team, but because when a French side feel like it is easy, they start making mistakes and bad decisions," said Parisse.
"Even if we beat France two years ago, they are playing very well now. Wales and Ireland are two teams that we rarely defeat - I've never beaten Ireland in my career - so it will be good to play them in Rome. For the opposition playing there is difficult."
Parisse believes that Italy are continuing to grow as a side and are catching up with their Six Nations rivals, highlighting tighter matches between the Azzurri and their opposition in recent tournaments.
With Brunel's philosophy of running rugby gradually paying off, Parisse hopes that by the time he decides to retire, Italy will be in with a shout of winning the whole championship.
"Five or six years ago we would have had a tight match with Scotland and then conceded 30-40 points against Wales and Ireland and then 50 against England or France. Now we are a lot closer, but to be credible we have to get results," added Parisse.
"It's not enough though to simply play well as you have to win, but I hope because we have three games at home that this will be the year that changes our expectations about the tournament in the future.
"The next step is to believe in how Jacques [Brunel] wants us to play. We don't fear any of the other sides and we have a chance to show that we have improved after the November Internationals.
"With Jacques being a French coach, he wants us to be a team that is not all about the forwards. You can't put the opposition under pressure if you are always defending and kicking the ball away, so he is trying to install the same mentality as the French to take risks and counter-attack more than in the past.
"My retirement is a long way off, but my dream is that by the time I stop playing I want to see us to be a side that are competitive enough to try and win the tournament. I hope and believe that we can be in that position in four or five years time."
As for the 2013 campaign, the Stade Français number eight believes that despite England's victory over New Zealand, France are favourites for the tournament due to the ability to adapt.
"England may have beaten the best side in the world in New Zealand, but I feel that France are favourites," stated Parisse.
"England are very structured and try to overpower the opposition but they are not able to adapt like France. When it comes to the freedom to play, nobody is better than France.
by Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
Lucasrg says...
@macte
Don't be pessimistic...if you read melkdave...and on some Italian forums, there is a new "Fly-Half" project within the Accademia to tech young fly halves proper test rugby skills and awareness. Possibly with a certain Andrew Marthens, friend of the FIR's president, back when they were playing at Calvisano.
@j615
After few matches since November, I'm still not convinced about Venditti's defence unless you run into his arms. Benvenuti is still pretty raw imo, didn't get very electrified by him in the last few games...but yes he did score a good try in the last one. they both need to step up in this year's competition. So Sgarbi and A.Pratichetti.
Posted 19:16 26th January 2013
macte says...
I'm sure I'm starting to be pretty boring repeating the same things. Italy will never have a "serious fly-half" until they change the way they choose the players. The only thing that cares is the size of the teenagers sent to the rugby college FIR organised (Accademia). Once the kids are around 18 or 19, they suddenly realise that no one has the playing abilities you expect from a fly-half. This is when our foreign based scouts go looking for players with Italian relatives.
Posted 16:36 26th January 2013
j615 says...
Gori, Vendetti and Benvenuti are the most exciting backs Italy have had for a very long time and will be around for the next decade. I hope they have a good go this year they might surprise people if they try and play at a higher tempo. The italian backrow is very decent too and should be able to compete with every team. I just hope whoever plays at 10 can put Italy in the right areas, kick their goals, pass accurately and play heads up rugby. Not too much to ask is it??!
Posted 14:30 26th January 2013
Lucasrg says...
Yep...totally agreed. Once we got a proper 10 we can compete for even for a second place in 5 yrs time.
But we still need to minimize silly penalties/knock-ons like Treviso do over and over. One step up and 2 steps back. :(
With Derbyshire back we have a hell of a back-row, very adaptable and diverse at any kind of play. Derbyshire ball in hand is pretty amazing...Zanni could even move to Lock forward imo.
I feel Italy will move the ball around the fringes and set pieces with Parisse-Derbyshire-Barbieri-Gori. This is a very good attacking kind of play that we already have seen at the endo of last year's 6N and in the November tests.
In fact I feel Brunel with use this as a game plan.
- Backrow's attack then - Centers attack - and again Backrow's attack, with fly half and wingers as back ups.
Forza Italia
Posted 19:35 25th January 2013
carpelone says...
Melkdave.
Italy need a serious fly-half, capable of slotting in all the penalties milked by forwards. Once you get this in place, there would be room even for the Italians backs (who, by the way are quite young).
What would Italy be with a second-choice fly-half (i.e. Hook, Biggar, Flood, ROG)? My opinion is that they really could challenge anybody in the 6N.
Posted 14:27 25th January 2013
melkdave says...
I have to sy i agre with him Italy have improved again since the last 6Ns.Yes the back play isnt fantastic yet,but then niether is Englands ,or Wales ect atmItaly really are starting to look like contenders ,another year or two imo,and they will be considered as dangerous as Irelad or Wales
Posted 10:35 25th January 2013