- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The conclusion of The Rugby Championship means attention now turns to the end-of-year Tests. Here is a look at where Italy are at ahead of the Southern Hemisphere nations’ arrival.
The Azzurri have come a long way in 2013 thanks to coach Jacques Brunel – a man that can turn mediocre teams to tough outfits.
Just ask the Colombires team of and Perpigan in 2009 that both won the Top 14 under his guise.
Brunel has helped improved Italy since taking over from Nick Mallett in late 2011.
Last year’s Six Nations showed how Brunel’s methods are working on the Italians. He has sought to use their strong pack but has also tried to add some spark in the backs.
He’s had them play a more expansive game with the Italians willing to run with the ball a lot along with producing offloads.
With two Italian teams in the Pro 12 in the form of Treviso and Zebre, it has produced young and exciting backs for the Italians.
Talent such as centre Tommaso Benvenuti and powerful winger Gio Venditti, who were impressive for Italy in the Six Nations.
Moreover, Italy has also called up to their 35-man training squad a young emerging talent such as 22-year-old centre Luca Morisi, 20-year-old Michele Campagnaro and 21-year-old winger Leonardo Sarto.
Moreover, it is possible Brunel might have solved Italy’s fly half conundrum, which has plagued the Italians for so long ever since Diego Dominguez’s retirement in 2003.
20-year-old Tommaso Allan was born to a Scottish father and Italian mother meaning that both Italy and Scotland were keeping tabs on him.
Though his family (his uncle played for Scotland) wanted to declare for Scotland it seems that Allan had chosen Italy.
Allan is a talented player and can also play at fullback or centre but it is at flyhalf where he is at its most comfortable.
The 20-year-old made a solid debut earlier last month for Perpignan when thrust into the limelight against Racing Metro, kicking 11 points despite losing 19-16 against the Parisian side.
It will be interesting to see how Allan copes at international level if picked and if he can solve Italy’s flyhalf woes, especially if he gets game time at the Six Nations.
Incumbent number ten Luciano Orquera blows hot and cold while his tackling is a known weakness, hence why Brunel has stuck him in the full back position when defending.
Orquera’s back up Alberto Di Bernado is a solid kicker for Treviso, but time is not on his side as the Argentinian-born flyhalf turns 33 in November.
The three games Italy face shall be an indicator of where the team are.
Italy play the Wallabies in Turin on November 9, where the Azzurri feel they could get something.
In 2008 and last year in Florence the Italians got close to a famous win.
The following week they host Fiji in Cremona. The Fijians will be hoping their best players such as winger Napolioni Nalaga of Clermont, scrum half Nikola Matawalu of Glasgow and full backs Timoci Nagusa of Montpelier/Metuisela Talebula of Bordeaux will be released to play in their internationals against Portugal, Italy and Romania.
Their final game is on November 23 against Argentina. It should be a interesting game especially as it is likely to be Pumas coach Santiago Phelan’s last game.
The Pumas will hopefully use the autumn internationals to blood some new talent.
Argentine fans along with pundits will be notably aggrieved if Santiago Cordero and Patricio Fernandez does not make their senior debuts in their games against England, Wales and Italy.
The top six northern hemisphere countries will be hoping they will have a successful autumn internationals where players will hope to cement themselves in the squad or make a name for themselves. It should be an interesting November.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.