Sarto with Warriors to learn the art of winning
WHEN you have as little experience of winning as locally-based Italian internationals, you’ll do anything to put that right.
After all, in the four years Leonardo Sarto was playing for Zebre the club won just 18 out of 112 games in the Pro12 and Europe – Glasgow managed that in one season.
Their failings, matched by Treviso, the other Italian franchise, also accounts for the fact that despite scoring after about 52 seconds of his debut international and claiming eight tries in his 30 caps, Sarto has won just four times.
Still, that debut probably gave him some warm feelings towards Scotland, as they were on the receiving end of his introduction to Test rugby, even if the Scots won the match.
It is a feeling Sarto has become familiar with. Last season, when he faced Glasgow in Parma, he again scored early as his team took a lead into half time, only for the Scots to score 36 unanswered points and win 43-14.
“The big reason to come is to start to win,” he said. “Zebre and Italy do not have big results at the moment. It is important to learn to win, to find an objective. For a wing, it is an opportunity to get more ball. Glasgow have great backs, and forwards, it is a great team.”
That, it must be said, was not the view of Alfredo Gavazzi, president of the Italian federation.
“Glasgow, come on,” he said, when discussing Sarto’s move last March, going on to suggest the only reason he had chosen the Warriors was because they were the only club to show an interest.
Sarto is not prepared to discuss that but is adamant that team management, nowadays headed by Conor O’Shea, are delighted he is here, and hope he can bring that winning mentality when he returns for international camps.
“He is very happy,” Sarto said. “I will bring the will to win when I go back.”