State of the Nation: Italy
As we do after every major tournament, we look at the state of affairs in each of the competing nations. Next up, Italy!
As we do after every major tournament, we look at the state of affairs in each of the competing nations. Next up, Italy!
The Azzurri started the 2012 Six Nations Championship with a new coach, promises of a new style and new ambitions of joining the ranks of the title contenders.
Seven weeks later, we can note that: Italy have a fierce pack; are very hard to beat in Rome; struggle to compete for more than 60 minutes away from home; and are regularly let down by their goal kickers.
It seems the more things change…the more they stay the same!
To be fair, Jacques Brunel was never going to be able to revolutionise the way Italy play the game overnight and, when seen in perspective, their 2012 campaign must be considered a moderate success.
A convincing win over Scotland meant that the Wooden Spoon would not reside in Rome for another year and England came uncomfortably close to being upset at the Stadio Olimpico.
That narrow loss to the English will be the toughest pill to swallow since – as was the case against Ireland last year – an historic victory seemed within reach.
It was Italy's best ever result against England and could easily be interpreted as a sign of their continued improvement.
As the old saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day, and Brunel has had enough good sense to build on the foundations laid by NicK Mallett rather than start from scratch.
No, we didn't see Italy change their spots but they certainly did attempt to be more positive. The tournament stats reveal that Brunel's team made more offloads in the tackle and kicked less than Wales, England and Ireland. They also completed more passes than both the Irish and the English so it would be inaccurate to suggest Italy are only about scrumming and mauling.
Yet the some old problems continue to hamper the Azzurri's progress and will continue to block their path to becoming a threat to the world's major nations until they are resolved.
Top of the list is their woeful record from the kicking tee. A strike rate of 52 percent will get you nowhere at Test level. One can only imagine what could have happened if Italy were able to keep the pressure on their opponents by converting all the opportunities to score three points given to them.
A sterile backline has long been the chief grievance for the Tifosi but there are positive signs on the horizon and 21-year-old, 108 kg, Aironi wing Giovanbattista Venditti looks like a star in the making.
As mentioned before the start of the Championship, Brunel's hopes of turning Italy into Six Nations title contentions in the next few years seems a bit overambitious but the fact that he has his team thinking positively bodes well for the future.
By Ross Hastie