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.
bottes pluie taille 19
Guest
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Derm
Roar Guru
Glass houses and all that....... I think the word 'one' in your final sentence should be capitalised or else you could just use the numeral instead i.e., Grade One or Grade 1 - this is also elementary in most English speaking countries. I'd also suggest that you use a comma or a colon after the sentence "To clear it up", and be consistent with your use of quote marks to highlight the words that you're referring to, such as "...possessive case of 'they' used as....." Lastly, your use of commas could benefit from some further reading and study to ease understanding for your potential readers. For example, your last line would should have two commas thus: This is elementary Grade 1 English in most, if not all, English-speaking countries. Shall we go back on topic now? :)
kunming tiger
Guest
Off topic a little but why do some forum users continualy confuse their and there? I assume the majority of users are native speakers so it's not the lack of English language proficiency. To clear it up " Their" is a form of the possessive case of they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun: their home; their rights as citizens; their departure for Rome. While " there" refers to in or at that place (opposed to here ): She is there now. 2. at that point in an action, speech, etc.: He stopped there for applause. 3. in that matter, particular, ... This is elementary Grade one English in most if not all English speaking countries.
Johnno
Guest
Thank you looked at it, good stuff.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Well the crowd has spoken, and well and truly shouted me down. Fair enough.
In Brief
Guest
The best place to get news on emerging nations is the FIRA AER website. Go to forum/ seniors: http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=b87255f945454eecd86d7b93f9b97d99
richard
Guest
Based on their last performance v the AB's,I would be extremely wary of the Azurri if I were an Australian fan.Very well coached,with an abrasive pack,I believe they will more than hold their own up front.Still expect Aussie to win,but it won't be quite the walkover people think.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
G'day Pots. Don't we all?! Good to hear from you.
chann wee
Guest
Actually SP is a very good player in an average side. Like Ryan Giggs was for welsh football or Sakib AlHassan in Bangladesh cricket team. In the matches i have seen him, the problem was he tried to do things , spark things , on his own and got isolated. He plays like a NZ player, handling and running :) He has some really fancy moves like back of hand passes and between legs passes and basketball passes and the works . In a team with better all round abilities he would have become a great 8s in the world. He is a very skilled ball player, would have been great on 7S .
Derm
Roar Guru
I am still around albeit with a few more grey hairs. I'm not sure if the author plans to write on each team and, if so, would not wish to rain on his parade. Will happily contribute though.
Yousef Teclab
Roar Guru
I know about Spain and Russia but notably Spain who are doing pretty decently in the Sevens. Spain are my dark horse to qualify for the 2015 RWC qualifers. As for Georgia their pack are notorious especially with many of their forwards in top teams within France's Top 14.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
But in fairness Parisse rarely plays on the back foot. He's always played behind a very strong tight five,
Harry Jones
Expert
Agree. And playing well at No. 8 in a team that is up against better teams, is REALLY hard. That position is tricky when you are on the back foot.
Johnno
Guest
Yousef if you ever get the chance be good if you could to an article on the emerging Euro nations like in one go perhaps. Greece,Finland,Norway got some good results on the weekend I read on the IRB website. Belguim rugby is coming along very well, as are Portugal and Spain who are both in the World Seven Series comp, Georgia, too of course, and Romania, Hungary is doing well, as are Russia and Ukraine. Germany,Sweden are doing okay too.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
I rate Heaslip and Billy Vunipola COULD be a superstar.
Yousef Teclab
Roar Guru
Parisse rarely has a bad game. He is always solid and is an excellent ball carrier. I think his presence lifts the Italian team. The only northern hemisphere No.8 that is close to touching him is France's Louis Picamoles whose ball carrying skills are destructive and Wales' Toby Faletau. But Parisse will get his 100th cap during these end of year Tests and he has been a great servant for Italian rugby.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Youve never seen Sergio Parisse standout? In nearly every game Ive seen of Italy's Parrisse stands out. I dont think hes the best 8 in the world but he has been 1 of them. Would make most international top 10 sides starting 15.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Could beat Aus, probably wont.
Bakkies
Guest
Treviso played some great rugby at the end of last season hammering Munster and the Scarlets. One big problem aside from fitness for Italy is their poor results outside of Europe. This needs to improve if they want to move up in the Rugby world.
Hoy
Roar Guru
A few. I won't admit to seeing every game he has ever played, but just when I watch I don't think he has stood out.