A New Normal (Round 4 & 5 Preview)

 

A lot has changed in the world and the start of the Six Nations back in February seems like a distant memory. A lot has also changed in the world of Italian rugby but first a special mention to a special person.

Maxime Mbanda:

Before I delve headfirst back into rugby nerfedy I need to write a little bit about Maxime Mbanda's heroism during the pandemic. If you don't already know then I urge you to read more into his story during lockdown. Shortly before the pandemic Mbanda had gained international attention after opening up about the disgusting racist abuse that he had received in Italy. He ended it receiving the highest ranking honour in Italy, the Order of Merit. The back row forward (20 caps) is known in Italian rugby circles for his tireless tackling and work rate at the breakdown. In the classic tradition of a number 6 his work isn't glamorous and often goes unnoticed. During lockdown Mbanda transferred his tireless work rate on the field to volunteering for the Italian emergency services. Working 12-hour shifts at the height of the first wave took a toll on him physically but it was the mental aspect of seeing what the virus was doing to people that hit him hardest. It is important to remember that thousands and thousands of health professionals all over the world deserve our praise just as much as Maxime, but as this is a rugby blog I thought it was important to highlight some who promoted the ideals of rugby so well in the public domain.

The Structure of Italian Rugby:

Previously on this blog I have spoken a lot about how I feel the structure of Italian rugby is moving in a positive direction. Work which was started under Conor O'Shea's tenure is continuing under Franco Smith and a generation of gifted young players are breaking into both the club teams and national squad. A Six Nations win is still looking like a distant ambition for Franco Smith but here are some of the reasons I feel we are moving in the right direction.

We are now seeing the squads at Benetton and Zebre looking balanced and structured. Both teams now have a balance of experience and youth, a balance of homegrown talents and overseas imports but most importantly there seems to be co-ordination from the national setup as to how the Italian game can be developed with both franchises benefiting. This was evident in the summer switch which saw young fly-half Antonio Rizzi move to Zebre with Eduardo Padovani moving in the opposite direction to Benetton. Although Rizzi's first season with Benetton was promising he lacked game time while competing with Ian Keatley and Tommaso Allan. With another young fly-half Paulo Garbisi joining the Benetton ranks, the move gives Rizzi a chance to prove himself at Zebre. It is likely he will still be an understudy to Carlo Canna but if Smith is still keen to deploy Canna at 12 for the national team the Zebre may look to employ the same tactic with Rizzi at 10. If you are a young fly-half making the step up to a professional level then having an international fly-half like Canna on your outside could come in handy in a sticky situation. Fly-half was once a problem position for Italy but with Rizzi's move to Zebre and Garbisi's positive start at Benetton it looks far more settled. Both young fly-halves have a more experienced international to learn from and more importantly to compete against. Garbisi's inclusion in the preliminary squad for the remaining Six Nations games and Rizzi's invitation to training camps shows that Smith thinks these young players will soon be in contention for a starting place.

Eduardo Padovani's move in the opposite direction also makes sense for both Zebre, Benetton and the national team. Padovani has been seen as a bit of utility back in recent times, most often being deployed on the wing for the national team. A utility back of this quality will likely be important to Smith and the national team especially if they employ a 6/2 split between forwards and backs on the substitutes bench. I primarily see him as a defensive full back much like what Rob Kearney was for Ireland. His ability to read the game and occupy space can nullify an opponents kicking game. At Zebre he was likely to play second fiddle to an in-form Junior Laloifi and his departure creates more playing opportunities for the exciting young prospect Jacopo Trulla who has been impressive for the Italian U21s team. He also comes into a Benetton team with first choice full back Jayden Hayward coming to the end of his career with no obvious replacement waiting in the wings. Although I really like Luca Sperandio at full back it seems that Kieran Crowley feels less inclined to give him the game time. Along with Matteo Minozzi's brilliant for for Wasps there seems to be a depth of options at full-back that previous Italian coaches haven't had.

Another pleasing sight for Italian fans is the number of young talents who have joined the Pro14 teams since the start of the pandemic. I've already mentioned Paulo Garbisi who has started both opening games for Benetton and looked at home in the Pro14. Benetton have also added fiesty young hooked Gianmarco Lucchesi to their ranks. Despite a couple of wayward line out throws his first foray into Pro14 rugby has looked promising and he has already been rewarded with a call up to the national team. Zebre have also been beneficiaries of the Italian production line with Jacopo Trulla, Federico Mori and Cristian Stoian all ben added as permit players from their teams in the Top12 (all three going straight into Smith's national squad).

Players Playing Abroad: 

Another cause for optimism is the performances of the Italian players in the English premiership. First we have to mention the transformation that has happened at Wasps. 13 wins out of 15 games since Lee Blackett took over as head coach has seen Wasps shoot up the table and into the grand final against Exeter Chiefs. The fact that Minozzi has been a contributing factor in this will do his confidence a world of good. Jake Polledri's form at Gloucester has been exceptional since the end of lockdown and he has adapted well to playing at number 8 instead of his usual role on the flanks of the scrum. His form has coincided with the promotion of Italian U21 scrum-half Stephen Varney to the Gloucester first team. Varney has already amassed 4 tries and a man of the match performance in his 7 games for the club. His inclusion in the national squad shows that Franco Smith has no hesitations about picking young players if they are in form. It also takes the number of former Hartpury College players in the Italian national team to 4 (Varney, Polledri, Callum Braley & Seb Negri).

What To Expect From The Finals Two Games:

Being realistic it is unlikely that Italy will come away with any championship points against Ireland or England. A much more realistic aim is for points on the scoreboard and a continuation of the attacking approach that we witnessed being formed at the start of the championship. With nothing to win I think we will see swan song appearances for Leanoardo Ghiraldini against Ireland and Sergio Parisse against England. Their departures have been delayed by over a year now since the World Cup and it is likely to be hugely emotional for the two legends of the game. It would also be nice to see Mbanda given the international spotlight as a reward for his service during the pandemic. I also think it is likely that Smith will use these final two games to try out many of the younger players. This includes giving Varney a senior appearance to lock down his future with Italy as he will still be available to play for his country of birth (Wales) until test capped. Looking further into the future we can expect a greater understanding of the team Franco Smith wants to move forward with during the Autumn Nations Cup which should also provide a more realistic opportunity for that much needed win.