Italy Vs England – Guinness Six Nations Azzurri Looking to Rebound In 2024
Having suffered for many years in the Six Nations, a new coach and promising youngsters will be looking to make a splash, but Italy still have a long way to go to any hardware. It’s a sad but nonetheless true truth: Italy is more often than not the whipping boy of the Six Nations.
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Since joining the Five Nations group in 2000, the Azzurri have tallied 18 wooden spoons (last place) compared to zero titles. Occasional upset wins are often interspersed with long losing spells, leaving Italy in a near-permanent state of Six Nations mediocrity, with some calling for Italy to be dropped from the competition entirely and replaced with another European country, most notably Georgia.
However, promising youngsters and a new coach saw Italy enter this year’s Six Nations tournament shortly after hitting the reset button. To say outright that a new, revolutionary era for Italian rugby has arrived would be an exaggeration (yet), but elite rugby nations are not created overnight.
For the Azzurri, the path to full-time participation in the Six Nations will be a marathon, not a sprint. Italy’s first steps towards rugby excellence will seen over the next few months.
Here’s a look at Italy’s squad and the outlook for the Six Nations, where the Azzurri scheduled to kick off their 2024 competition against England on February 3 in Rome:
Last Time Out
Following a shock victory over Wales in the final round of the 2022 Six Nations, which ended a grueling 36-match losing streak in the competition, Italy provided some optimism heading into last year’s Six Nations tournament with some exciting young figures and a later win over Australia later in the year has led many to believe that the Azzurri are on the rise.
And although Italy finished last at the 2023 Six Nations (an eighth consecutive wooden spoon) and faced constant criticism from those who want the Italians to be kicked out of the competition, Italy by no means defeated and finished with the best result. difference than Wales finishing in fifth place, also picking up a bonus point against France.
However, the results of the Rugby World Cup in Italy later this year have been much of the same song and dance, giving a boost to those who believe Italian rugby is not up to par with the rest of the Six Nations group.
Beaten by New Zealand 96-17 and then France 60-7 in Group A play, the Azzurri, while promising at times, still have a long way to go before they can compete for serious international hardware.
Key Player for Six Nations
Ange Capuozzo, fullback
Regarded as one of Italian rugby’s finest prodigies, the standout Toulouse defender and 2022 Men’s Rugby Player of the Year has been a frequent companion of Italy since making his debut at senior international level.
Born in France but qualified for the Italian national team by his grandparents, the diminutive Capuozzo – even at just 5ft 10in – looks arguably Italy’s best player since all-time national team leader Sergio Parisse retired. You can also read Six Nations Showdown – Italy vs England and the Pursuit of Glory.
Capuozzo was instrumental in the Azzurri’s 2022 victories over Wales and Australia. Capuozzo has kept up the pace and made four international tries all of last season, three of which came on his World Cup debut, and he will be hoping to make up for lost time after being the last to leave. Six Nations of the year due to injury after Italy’s defeat to Ireland in the third round.
Now 24 years old, he plays full-time for one of the biggest clubs in world rugby. Capuozzo, who has scored two goals in six appearances for Toulouse this season, may lack the surrounding talent compared to other Six Nations teams, but his brilliance of pace and superb skill demands the attention of anyone facing the Italians.
Potential Breakthrough Star
Simone Gesi, wing
Having made his debut for Italy during the last match of last year’s Six Nations against Scotland, Gezi just left out of the Azzurri’s World Cup squad, but the 22-year-old – with a blistering pace that has often seen him compared to compatriot Capuozzo – hopes that this year’s Six Nations will see him remain at the top of the list for years to come.
Gezi has performed admirably for Zebra Parma in both the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup this season, scoring 11 tries in 12 matches in all competitions, including five tries in just three European games, seeing him even with Benneton’s Onisi Ratave leading the tournament. pool stages. These figures, by the way, come after another impressive mark for Zebre of 11 tries in 13 matches in the 2022/23 season.
He has also done business with developing Italy, scoring a hat-trick against Romania A at the end of 2021, so don’t surprised if Gezi turns out wide and introduces himself to the world with his first try for the senior team this year. Six Nations.
Toughest Fixture for Six Nations
Ireland, Round 2
Italy’s first match at the Stadio Olimpico against England is missing many key players (including captain Owen Farrell, center Ollie Lawrence and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie among others), which could provide inspiration for the Azzurri’s performance ahead of home support as coach Steve Borthwick struggles. try to move in pieces and make do with what he has.
However, Italy’s second match against reigning Grand Slam champions Ireland at the Aviva Stadium did not bring much success for the Azzurri.
Ireland’s top-ranked team for much of the last two years widely picked to finally make up for their many disappointments in the World Cup knockout stages and win it all only to lose 28-24 to New Zealand. in the quarterfinal classic match. Ireland could turn into a team playing like it’s on a mission in this year’s Six Nations and in their debut home match of the tournament, Italy, who have won just four games in 36 attempts against Ireland, including just once since 2000, could play the role of sacrificial lamb in Dublin.
Tournament Outlook
It’s a little harsh, but not unfair, to say that any six countries where Italy doesn’t finish last is a success. In this regard, Italy has not had a successful Six Nations since 2015.
So, aside from not finishing last as the heavy betting favorite to finish bottom, this year’s competition should about taking trainer Gonzalo Quesada (his first Six Nations since hired from Stade France) and its team, as well as attracting youth. gaining valuable international experience and participation in elite competition.
Keep in mind that Italy’s youth system has quite impressive over the last few years; he finished fourth at the 2022 U-20 Six Nations, beating England, Scotland and Wales along the way, and surpassed himself the following year with a third-place finish. The biggest challenge for Italy has been finding ways to ease the transition from youth to senior level for its new talents and make them strong factors in the senior team, with success still largely eluding the Azzurri, who are still looking for a real breakthrough to establish themselves. them as rivals on the world stage.
That moment has not yet arrived, but with some promising performances at this year’s Six Nations, it is possible that Italy will be a step closer to achieving that goal.
England’s Isiekwe out of Six Nations opener
England’s preparations for the opening Six Nations match against Italy have suffered a new setback as Nick Ishikwe has ruled out of training camp due to illness, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Friday. Isikwe, 25, has now ruled out of the first-round match in Rome on February 3, with colleague Charlie Ewels taking his place at England’s warm-weather training base in Girona, northern Spain.
“Isikwe returned home due to illness. Ewels will arrive at England’s training base in Girona this evening, the RFU said in a statement. Ishikwe was an option on the bench against the Azzurri at the Stadio Olimpico and his absence created another problem for England manager Steve Borthwick.”
The biggest problem appears to be in midfield, with Ollie Lawrence ruled out for the rest of the championship with a thigh problem and Oscar Beard ruled out with concussion. As a result, either the uncapped Fraser Dingwall or Max Ojomo could now partner Henry Slade in the centre, in what would be another shake-up in England’s midfield.
Six Nations Upcoming Fixture Against Italy:
Only Dingwall and Ojomo played regularly at center, with Borthwick unable to call on either Owen Farrell after the former captain ruled himself out of the Six Nations on mental health grounds or the injured Manu Tuilagi (groin).
Luke Cowan-Dickie is also ruled out of the game against Italy due to an unspecified health condition, but the hooker return for the second-round match against Wales at Twickenham. Bath second row Ewels won the last of his 30 caps in the 2022 Six Nations and will compete with Alex Coles to provide bench cover for Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessouma.
England travel from Girona to Rome on Thursday when Borthwick is set name his starting line-up. Borthwick, himself a former England captain, has already announced that hooker Jamie George will succeed Farrell as captain for the Six Nations tournament.
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