Now Italrugby scares England too

«I hope that our boys will be recognized for the performance, without saying that France had a bad day. If France had a bad day, it’s because our boys played very well». The day after Italy-France, despite the defeat, the still burning photo finish (29-24) is more sweet than bitter, and coach Crowley’s words capture the situation. The disappointment for a failed feat remains, but in everyone, especially abroad, there is the feeling that Italy has taken a step forward, and it is no longer possible to consider it a mattress team, the nice southern extra who guaranteed a victory effortlessly.

If the Olimpico audience is still far from the glories of the past – just over 41,000 admissions – the audience figures are good: over 600,000 viewers and 2,333,000 unique contacts on Sky Sport and TV8, with a 4.5% share. And above all, the approval rating of the foreign press is growing, directly proportional to the concern of our next adversaries. In particular of England, defeated on their home debut by Scotland, and in full technical-managerial confusion after the change on the bench. “Eddie Jones left me with a poor team in everything,” muttered the new coach Steve Bortwick. And for more than one observer, 2023 could be the year of Italy’s first victory over England, the only opponent in the Six Nations that we have never managed to beat, and who left us at a loss last year in Rome. zero points (33-0). The company Lamaro, Capuozzo & Co. should among other things carry it away. Italy happened to sink badly in Twickenham Fortress: 80-23 in 2001, 59-13 in 2011, 57-14 in 2019. In 2013, however, the home of English rugby shook: the Whites won yes 18 -11, but with a goal to zero for Brunel’s XV which closed the partial of the second half 8-6, after the 12-3 of the first for the hosts. Andrea Masi was the man of the match and Graham Roundtree, English assistant coach, honestly admitted: «We survived, but we were really scared in the stands».

In 1998, before entering the tournament and in Huddersfield, however, the referee ‘didn’t see’ a very clear Troncon try that would have given us the lead 22-16. Woodward, future world champion coach, managed to win 23-15, but lost a few days of life.

Then in 2017 a cunning and disconcerting scheme – renamed ‘fox’ – and invented by our South African assistant coach Brandon Venter, sent the English into the ball for a time, who found themselves down 10-5 at half-time. The collapse came in the second half, with three tries conceded by the Azzurri in ten minutes and the final score of 36-15, but the shock remained. “We can’t be normal – our Irish coach Conor O’Shea said then – We must be Italy”, and even if in a different way, Crowley also has something like this in mind. “The Azzurri made giant strides in the second half,” admitted Shaun Edwards, the brilliant Welshman who coordinates France’s defence. «Let’s be honest: in the end we were holding onto the game…». Troubled by a quality performance by the whole team, as well as by the elusive Ange Capuozzo: «when the ball reaches him you can’t stop him, he always does something», granted even Antoine Dupont, the French scrum-half elected in 2022 best rugby player in the world. It is no coincidence that after the first day Ange leads the ranking for meters covered with the ball in the Tournament, 122.

“They may not have the firepower to compete for the title,” wrote former England international Stuart Barnes in the Times – but they can dream of two victories that would silence their critics. In November, the signs were good, and the beating suffered by South Africa did not tell the whole story. The victory against Australia a week earlier, with an amazing Capuozzo, was proof that Italy can compete, if not with the best, at least with those immediately behind. The team have never been more adept with the ball in hand, but the incredibly mobile Danilo Fischetti is a prop as capable of carrying the ball as a centre. Their captain, Michele Lamaro, gives them the guidance that Sergio Parisse, with all his talents, can no longer give. Two victories were once a dream. This year they are a possibility. Finally Italy could be on the march». Even the Masters, shot in their pride and holed up in Twickenham Fortress, no longer feel so safe.