Forza Azzurri: The Italian Rugby Renaissance
“History is yesterday’s newspaper, isn’t it, not tomorrow’s.”
Ian Foster, the All Blacks head coach vying to take the Kiwis to a tenth successive quarter final, is not taking Friday night’s clash against Italy lightly. Despite convincingly beating the Azzurri in their previous fifteen encounters, this current Italian side will pose a different threat to their flawless record in this crucial Pool A match.
The Italians have started their World Cup in compelling fashion, racking up twelve tries and 90 points from their opening two pool matches against Namibia and Uruguay. Foster’s compatriot, Kieran Crowley, will undoubtedly be pleased with the two bonus-point victories that place Italy ahead of three time winners New Zealand.
As Dino Lamb highlighted in a recent interview with Reuters, “we’ve put ourselves in the best possible position to create history for Italian rugby.”
The odds are however stacked against the Azzurri. Former Springbok turned Italian defensive coach, Marius Goosen, insists that “it’s ludicrous to stand here and say we’re going to go in there and win the game.”
After experiencing defeat in every single match of the Six Nations tournaments from 2017 to 2021, marking a continuous losing streak that extended to 32 games, Goosen’s wary outlook will not dampen the current spirit amongst Italian enthusiasts.
The Azzurri have gone from strength to strength since clinching a final minute victory, against an admittedly poor Welsh side, at the Principality Stadium 18 months ago. It was there that Ange Capuozzo officially marked his arrival on the world scene, a week after scoring two tries off the bench at Edinburgh on debut, setting up a famous and vital win with a weaving run up the touchline.
Capuozzo, the reigning World Rugby Men’s Breakthrough Player of the Year, has captured the Italian imaginary in ways only comparable to the revered figure of Sergio Parisse, since his first outing at Murrayfield in the 2022 Six Nations.
The Stade Toulousain back was also at the heart of the Azzurri’s second landmark victory of the year, this time in Florence, inspiring an unprecedented 28-27 win against the Wallabies with a brace of tries which mesmerised onlookers like a Florentine artist of yesteryear. Italian rugby has found its new poster boy.
The Azzurri has too often found itself the victim of producing talented individuals whilst simultaneously struggling to build a cohesive and competitive team around them. Sergio Parisse, a Roman gladiator reincarnated in the 21st century colosseum of the Stadio Olimpico, is a prime example of this. He would have undoubtedly improved and most likely started for any other nation during the 2010s, yet was the shining star in an Italian side lacking in quality and stamina to challenge in the Six Nations or otherwise.
Other players that fit the same mould come in the shape of Diego Dominguez, Marco Bortolami, the Bergamasco brothers, or even the shaggy Martin Castrogiovanni.
However, the current Italian squad provides star quality from 1-15: a reflection of an improving domestic tradition and supplemented by players plying their trade in the Top 14 and English Premiership. The 16 Benetton Rugby players which account for half of the Italian World Cup squad is testament to their eight victories in the highly competitive URC last season.
Elsewhere, Paolo Garbisi has revolutionised the Italian back line with his incisive passing and powerful ball carrying: the Montpellier flyhalf has made 50 meters in contact so far this World Cup (9 overall). Crowley instils a sense of belief in this Italian squad to play with freedom and panache, which is reinforced by a dynamic back row that includes the enterprising Azzurri skipper, Michele Lamaro.
Ruck speed has been vital to their front foot attack, an area of play which the Italians will hope to disrupt any Kiwi momentum. According to OptaJonny, Italy’s recorded the fastest ruck of any side at this year’s Six Nations (3.02 seconds), which consequently allowed them to benefit from the second most amount of possession in the tournament (52%). Paired with New Zealand’s uncharacteristically poor discipline so far this World Cup (conceding 12 penalties on average per game), Italy will hope to exploit the All Blacks ill-discipline in the breakdown.
Gli Azzurri will also take heart at Australia’s capitulation against an inspired Welsh side last weekend, whilst New Zealand will be hoping that they don’t replicate the unlikely fate of their trans-Tasman rivals.
After the surprising news of Kieran Crowley’s early departure to Japanese outfit, Honda Heat, following the World Cup, he will be desperate to leave a final long-lasting impression on Italian rugby. “We’re not going out there trying to keep the score down, we’re going out there to try to win the game.”
Make no mistake, Italy must pray that all the stars will align in Lyon on Friday night, and even their very best performance might not be enough against a formidable All Blacks squad with Sam Cane and Damian McKenzie to come off the bench. A losing bonus point would be a monumental achievement of progress for Italy, with next week’s showdown against a Dupont-less France providing yet another opportunity for eternal glory.
Forza Azzurri.
Italy vs New Zealand, 29 September, OL Stadium, Lyon, 20:00 k.o.
