Garbisi and Varney are now pulling the strings, but defensive errors of old remain for Italy
PERHAPS it’s best to avoid the seemingly endless debate surrounding ‘should they or shouldn’t they remain in the Six Nations’ and instead hone in on something else as the Azzurri prepare for Ireland today.
That seems more relevant and less disrespectful. As such, three issues immediately spring to mind.
First of all, both sides come into this game having lost both matches played so far which ramps up the pressure considerably more on the visitors to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
Then there is the fact that after two rounds of action, even though Franco Smith’s Italy are expectedly propping up the table, they have actually scored more tries than Andy Farrell’s Ireland.
There’s not much in it — Italy have three tries, Ireland a mere two — but it is still not to be ignored and is more of a reflection on the difficulties the fifth-placed Irish have had in planting the ball over the line.
As it happens, they have also made more off-loads and line breaks.
And the third factor worth pointing out?
The Italians appear to have settled on a half-back partnership which is not struggling for form or confidence, nor battling Father Time, because either the coach has no faith in the other options or that the alternative combinations are just not able to match the quality of the long-serving players even if they are now prone to breaking down.
Out-half Paolo Garbisi and scrum-half Stephen Varney are Italy’s incumbents and have a combined age of 39, just four years more than Johnny Sexton’s current age.
Welsh-born Varney already looks the business and is a sharp and sniping No.9.
He showed some terrific pace and skill against France when he
even roasted Antoine Dupont on one occasion.
Garbisi is also hugely talented and attack-minded and Smith — with former Italy scrum-half Alessandro Troncon in charge of the backs — has given the Azzurri free rein to bring their back three into action on attacking plays which has already resulted in winger Monty Ioane causing much stress to scrambling defences.
So Smith has opted to get Italy playing creatively when they can and expressing themselves which has led to some eye-catching play in the still heavy defeats to France and England.
But some familiar issues remain.
The Italians have coughed up 13 tries in two games and have conceded a total of 91 points. Hardly surprising then that defensively, they have at times looked clueless.
While their willingness to show enterprise has given them that little bit extra, the error rate has been far too high as inaccuracy has struck them down again at vital moments.
And yet should Italy hit Ireland with an early onslaught, and Smith has shown faith in them by keeping the same starting side from the one which was thumped at Twickenham, and rally around skipper Luca Bigi then maybe we’ll get a game.
Mind you, it’s still more likely that the aftermath will still see that debate dragging on as to Italy’s value to the Six Nations.