Is Italy forever doomed to suffer in the Tournament? – 20 minutes

France, Ireland, England? As every year at this time, the small world of rugby motto on the favorite of the Six Nations Tournament, which begins this weekend. For the last place on the other hand, there is no debate:
italy should save a miracle store a seventh wooden spoon in a row in his well-stocked dresser. The Azzurri kick off their 2022 campaign on Sunday
in Saint Denis, where a 33rd defeat in a row awaits them in the competition. Come on, something like 45-19, wet finger.

This endless shortage inevitably revives the eternal debate on the legitimacy of the selection trained since last May by New Zealander Kieran Crowley, and on its possible replacement by Georgia thanks to a system of ascent-descent

“Benjamin Morel, the boss of the VI Nations, was once again more than clear on this subject, saying that it was not on the agendareplies Marzio Innocenti, the president of the Federation (FIR) questioned by 20 minutes. And on a personal level, are you sure that the other Federations would take the risk of being relegated? »

A priori, it is not tomorrow the day before that we will swap a weekend in Rome for a stay in Tbilisi. However, the problem is not solved. How to cure the sick man of European rugby, whose last success in the Tournament dates back to February 28, 2015 in Scotland (19-22), under the mustachioed leadership of Jacques Brunel?

Nine years without success against the Blues

The relative “golden age” was already over. Admitted to the Tournament in 2000, Italy of the Bergamasco brothers, by Castrogiovanni, Lo Cicero, Troncon and (already) Parisse confused many opponents for more than a decade, in a style quite far from the refinement of the Florentine Renaissance. Twice, she even won two matches in the same edition: in 2007 (in Scotland and against Wales) then in 2013 (against France and Ireland), on a regular basis.

And today ?

“I am aware that France, England and Ireland are probably the three best teams on the world stage, resumes Marzio Innocenti (63), former 3rd line and captain of the selection in the 1980s. at present, playing our best rugby is not enough to beat them. As a rugby player the two games against Scotland and Wales are probably the ones I would target but having said that I know Kieran Crowley and the players will take to the field every time to bring home the win. »

Only, in 2021, the team then coached by the South African Franco Smith had especially collected big roustes, including a 7-48 at the Stadio Olimpico against the Welsh people followed by a 52-10 at Murrayfield. “You have to be very careful, observes Gianluca Barca, co-founder and director of the only specialized Italian monthly, All Rugby. Last year, we conceded a points record [239] and tests [34] in the Tournament. There is nothing to hope for if we continue like this. We must therefore start by defending well, and then progress step by step. »

For several months, a little music has been heard: Italy finally has a good generation, capable in the long term of restoring the image of rugby in a country where “football is the number 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 sport” as Gianluca Barca points out with a smile. “Our youth is a chance, it’s something positive because we will still be in selection in 10 or 12 years”, asserted this week Paolo Garbisi, the opener of Montpellier (21 years old), in an interview with AFP .

“Succeeding in maintaining the level that we produced this fall against New Zealand (47-9 defeat) for 70 or 75 minutes, even 80, constitutes our greatest challenge, continues one of the symbols of this succession, with the 3rd line and captain Michele Lamaro (Treviso), the versatile three-quarter Leonardo Marin (Treviso), the rear Matteo Minozzi (Wasps) or the center-winger Federico Mori (UBB). Because we know how to play well, but what we lack is consistency, especially at the physical level. »

Rugby is like cycling

A recurring evil among the Azzurri, as Barca reminds us in a nice cycling metaphor. “Nick Mallet [sélectionneur de 2007 à 2011] said that you had to stay in the peloton until the last meters, to possibly win by a wheel. If you lose contact 50 km from the finish, there’s nothing you can do…” Inevitably, the Federation is counting on the new wave to pedal further and higher.

“A lot of talent has emerged in recent years, as evidenced by the results of the U20 selection, develops Marzio Innocenti, in office since last March. Our young people play regularly in the two teams engaged in URC [Trévise et les Zebre de Parme évoluent en United Rugby Championship, ex-Ligue celte] as well as with Italy and Italy A.”

A domestic championship to review

This last team appears to be an essential link in the new federal policy. “It offers the best players in the Top 10 [le championnat domestique] the opportunity to test themselves at international level and to attract the attention of the coach”, notes the president of the FIR.

The weakness and confidentiality of the championship are clearly identified shortcomings, due to a structural problem: the vast majority of elite clubs are concentrated in the historic fiefdoms of northern and northeastern Italy (Emilia-Romagna and Veneto especially). And as Gianluca Barca points out, “with the exception of Padua, the championship has deserted the big cities for medium or small towns, like the French championship in the 1980s”.

Calvisano or Colorno, for example, have less than 10,000 inhabitants. It’s typical, but not practical for attracting crowds and sponsors. As for the URC franchises, supported by the FIR, if Treviso, official supplier of the selection, comes out with honors (victory in the Rainbow Cup last year), the Zebra remain easy prey for Celtic and South African competitors.

A partnership with the football federation

“If we want to succeed, we must become a real national sport, like football, loose Innocenti, who gives an appointment at the 2023 World Cup for a first assessment. We recently announced a partnership with the Italian Football Federation of which I am particularly proud. This marks a first step in bringing our sport to new audiences across the country, broadening the sports culture of our youth. We are also investing in southern Italy, in structures, land and management. »

?? @CapuozzoAngel was voted Man of the Match following the match Spain | Italy in which he took part with the team ?️ of Italy ??

Final score: ?? 11-13 ?? pic.twitter.com/ihqBgHqPGG

— FC Grenoble Rugby (@FCGrugby) October 31, 2021

And if the pool is not enough (there are currently 88,000 licensees according to the FIR against 244,000 in France), there are still naturalizations. As in the case of the young fullback from Grenoble Ange Capuozzo (22), with transalpine roots, who followed the new honorary course: after the U20s, then Italy This fall against Spain, he was selected for the first time among the “big guys” for Sunday’s shock at the Stade de France. “We play by the same rules as other nations and ‘exiled’ players can be part of our project,” assumes Innocenti.

Better media visibility

The road is still long and tricky before the Italian team gets a bit scared again. But already, a timid thinning has pierced the gloomy sky that has been hanging over it for too long: for the first time since 2014, the matches of the Squadra Azzurra in the Tournament which is just starting will be broadcast live on Sky Sport, with the legend Diego Dominguez as a consultant.

“It’s a very good thing because it’s a big sports channel, welcomes journalist Gianluca Barca. In recent years, the visibility had dropped a lot until it was on channel 57 or 58 of the remote control, alongside programs like the hamburger-eating contests…”