O’Shea: We’ll have a go, not die wondering
BRENDAN GALLAGHER talks to the Italian camp and finds reasons for optimism this season
It might seem like Conor O’Shea is still getting his feet under the table with Italy but actually he’s already got two summer tours, two November campaigns and a full Six Nations campaign under his belt. The clock is ticking, not in terms of his job – everybody accepts that the overhaul of the Italy Test side, and indeed Italian club rugby, is a huge job – but for signs of improvement and hope.
During that time Italy have played 17 internationals and won four – against USA, Canada, Fiji and, most notably, a first ever victory over South Africa. There was also an excellent performance in defeat away to Australia but there have also been some big defeats against top sides and sloppy losses against teams they could have beaten. Has anything really changed?
Yes, would be my estimation, although this Six Nations will be the acid test. Benetton – with five wins in the PRO14 and some gutsy display in Europe – are much more competitive and Zebre are beginning to play for the full 80 minutes. Admittedly that’s not a huge amount to go on but it’s a start and O’Shea had devoted a lot of time and motorway miles working closely with Kieron Crowley at the former and Michael Bradley at the latter.
There is some exceptional talent coming through in the back row. If Italy hadn’t swooped for promising Gloucester flanker Jake Polledri I fancy England might have dived in while Seb Negri, another graduate of Hartpury College, is also an accomplished flanker with the pace for Test rugby. Both should make their entrance later in the tounament after just missing the 31-man cut for the England game.
Maxime Mbanda was putting some stick about before injuring his shoulder but is back just in time for this tournament while Giovanni licata was one of the best forwards on view in last season’s U20 Six Nations and the current U20 captain Michele Lamaro has been attracting rave reviews. Renato Giammarioli is another young gun pressing for selection.
“The competition in our back row is frighteningly good,” says O’Shea “They are all above average rugby players and have a chance to learn from one of the greats. I want them to suck Sergio (Parisse) dry for knowledge and tips over the coming two years, to learn at the feet of a master.”
Ironically, after decades of producing gnarly front fives who ensured strong scrum and reliable line-out that is where Italy could do with a few players kicking on. For a couple of years now there has been talk of Simone Ferrari and Andrea Lovotti being the next Italian beasts at prop but thus far it hasn’t happened.
Scrum-half is a position of strength. Edoardo Gori, Tito Tebaldi and Marcello Violi are all Test class nines and Gori is such a good pacey all-round player you wonder if his talents could be employed elsewhere.
Fly-half, though, remains an issue. Carlo Canna seems to have marked time while Tomasso Allen looks the part in patches but hasn’t delivered too many big 80 minute performance and might also be under consideration at centre.
The Irish-born and reared Ian McKinley is an interesting option having breathed life into his rugby career in the lower amateur leagues in Italy after he lost his sight in one eye. Now fully professional with Treviso he is arguably the most reliable goal-kicker in a side that has lacked a high percentage kicker for too long and is also very sharp on the break. This could be his time.
Wider out, big injuries continue to bite. Michele Campagnaro is a high class centre but Italy have seen so little of him and the same can be said for his former Treviso teammate Luca Morisi who is bravely trying to make his way back after two ACL operations.
Angelo Esposito has been in good form this season but now has also ruptured an ACL and, disappointingly, Leonardo Sarto, having recovered from a shoulder injury, has now got a back problem which rules him out. So O’Shea will test his squad depth with the likes of Mattia Bellini and Metteo Mioi. Tomasso Benvenuti and Tomasso Boni are still going well in midfield, Edorado Padovani has found some form and Kiwi Jayden Hayward, having qualified by residence, is a very competent full-back. They still have the makings of a useful backline but can’t afford a glut of injuries
“We are going to make controlled decisions and take controlled risks,” says O’Shea. “We might lose a bit in the setpiece because we are going to be more attacking. We will go for it and not die wondering . We want to take some risks and unleash some of the youthful X factor we think we have. I’m excited and energised because I know we are making progress.”
England first up, at home with a full complement, is probably the best time to pay the reigning champions but the challenge remains immense as Parisse acknowledges.
“If England play at their very best level they will win the game. They are a very good team, strong, we know it – but that doesn’t dictate how we will prepare and how we will play. Our focus is on ourselves totally. You never know.
“I am just confident the way we are working. For a long time we weren’t doing the right things but since Conor arrived now we are. We need time to go through the process and unfortunately for me it is much nearer the end of my career than the beginning.
“I can see how much we have improved in the last 12 months and I want us to show that in this tournament.”