Ten Italian tyros who will hit the headlines
IT’S BECOME almost a mantra or article of faith recently that reinforcements, in the form of a squadron of hungry young guns, are arriving on cue to build on Italy’s encouraging improvement. This has been based on Italy’s consistent improvement at U20 level where they have been dishing out bloody noses to the big boys for four or five years now.
The class of 2024 are also hopeful of good things at the Junior World Cup in South Africa this summer when they are in the same pool as Ireland, Australia and Georgia. They came within a whisker of beating Ireland away in the recent Six Nations and won’t fear either the Aussies or the Lelos.
Last year, they caused a major upset at the Junior World Cup, also in South Africa, by defeating the hosts in Paarl although they couldn’t back that up in a must-win game against Georgia to reach the semi-finals.
There is not a Six Nations team that Italy have not beaten and in some instances multiple times since 2019 at U18 and U20 level and that experience and muscle memory is now being fed into the Italian psyche as they progress. The Italian conveyor belt – nastro trasportatore – is becoming a reality.
Already this season we have seen 21-year-olds Tommaso Menoncello, Ross Vintcent and Lorenzo Pani take centre stage in huge games while another member of that outstanding U20 team from 2020 – scrum-half Alessandro Garbisi – made a more than decent Six Nations debut against England.
With just two fully professional franchises, the Italians have also been forced to get inventive to nurture such talent.
One ploy has been to resurrect the Italy A team under Alessandro Troncon, the assistant national coach to Gonzalo Quesada which seeks out matches for teams mainly based from the semi-professional Top Ten domestic Italian league. With just Benetton and Zebre in the URC, contracts are at a premium and many promising U20 caps can’t immediately get the break they want so the A team intends to keep a pathway open for them.
And the other is a return to the policy of not shying away from basing players overseas, mainly in France, but in the instance of Vintcent, with Exeter Chiefs. You can see Exeter utilising that close link with Exeter University again to their mutual benefit and indeed I can see other young Italians taking the BUCS route.
As well as senior players such as Ange Capuozzo, Paolo Garbisi, Monty Ioane, Martin Page-Relo and Tommaso Allan being based in France, a strong group of youngsters are now also embedded with the Espoir’s sections of big French clubs. All of which is broadening the player base.
Anyway, so you aren’t caught by surprise by the next young Italian tyro, I have drawn up a list of the top prospects to keep an eye out for over the next 12-18 months wherever they play. A sort of public information service!
David Odiase (Oyonnax, back row, 21):
Muscular 6ft 2in, 17 stone blindside flanker or No.8 who became an online celebrity last year with his inspiring speeches when captaining Italy U20. Won 15 caps at that level over two years and the back row in 2022 of Odiase, Ross Vintcent and the skipper that year Giacomo Ferrari is probably the best Italy Juniors have ever put together. Joined the Oynonnax Espoirs last year and is beginning to get 1st team rugby.
Francois Carlo Mey (Clermont, utility back, 20):
Italy don’t lack for exciting young backs but Mey has always been considered, potentially, the jewel in the crown. Has
the kicking and passing skillset of a fly-half, good gas and the solidity of centre which is where he mainly plays. Born and bred in Italy, he is the son of an itinerant South African who settled in Parma. Impressed as an 18-year-old in that strong Italy U20 side of 2022 playing alongside Tommaso Menoncello at centre and again last year when he was Italy’s standout back. A serious leg injury then badly disrupted his career but he is on the comeback trail.
Marcos Gallorini (Benetton, prop, 19):
At 6ft 3in and nearly 21 stone this young giant from Tuscany is an absolute unit and has been anchoring Italy age group scrums for three years. At U18 level helped take the Ireland scrum apart in their 41-10 victory and with the U20s over the last two years he has been instrumental in wins over France, England, Wales and Scotland. Possibly the old school front row beast Italy have been looking for at prop for a while but also has good hands and core skills. Has been snapped up by Benetton.
Marco Scalabrin (Benetton, wing, 19):
The young giant – 6ft 4in and close to 17 stone – has enjoyed a breakout U20 season with four tries and will be Italy’s main attacking weapon at the forthcoming Junior World Cup. His MOM display away to Ireland included two superbly taken tries and one memorable 75-yard chase back to prevent a certain Ireland try in Itay’s narrow defeat. Very strong and has exceptional top end gas although he can take a little time to reach top speed. Another who has signed professionally with Benetton.
Luca Rizzoli (Zebre, prop, 21) Was the hard man in the 2021-22 Italy U20 front row. A squat 18 stone of hewn muscle, Rizzoli looks the part and has played 14 URC games for
Zebre in the demanding URC league which abounds with class Test props. He is learning quickly and should be challenging for an Italy squad place from next season onwards.
Giacomo Ferrari (Zebre, back row, 22)
Piratical looking No.8 and outstanding captain of that best ever Italy U20 side in 2022. At that level he sometimes looked like a man among boys, a player of more experience and nous, and it has taken a little time to adjust to senior rugby where everybody has both in abundance. A good athlete and ferocious ball carrier he has slipped behind the likes of Vintcent in the rankings and there have been a few untimely injuries but he will be challenging soon.
Simone Gesi (Zebre, wing, 22): Italy don’t exactly lack for wings at present but Gesi has to be in contention. Enjoyed one good season with the U20s at the Covid 2012 Six Nations Festival when he scored the individual try of the tournament against France. Took a while to adapt to senior rugby but hit his stride with Zebre this season with six URC tries to date, often working in conjunction with his fullback Lorenzo Pani, who displayed his class in Cardiff on Saturday. Not the biggest but very quick, elusive and a steam piston hand-off.
Federico Mori (Bayonne, centre, 23):
If it wasn’t for the Brex-Menoncello axis in midfield, Mori would have already made a bigger name for himself. Great athlete – his uncle Fabrizio is a former 400m hurdles world champion –
Mori has been enjoying a breakout season with Bayonne after gaining much T14 experience with Bordeaux. A star man in the class of 201920 for Italy U20, he is still only 23 and with attrition rates high in midfield, he is already providing excellent cover for Italy. Quick enough to double up on the wing if required.
Nicola Bozzo (Perpignan, utility back, 19):
A sparky influence behind the scrum in this year’s U20 team, we will see more of him at the Junior World Cup. An interesting career trajectory saw him play – and play very well – for top English school Sedbergh for a couple of seasons before signing an Espoirs contract this season with Perpignan where he has already made a senior appearance.
Piero Gritti (Clermont, second row/flanker, 19):
Perhaps Italy’s foremost need is more second row and lineout options alongside Federico Ruzza. Gritti could be that man. At 6ft 5 and 18 stone he is still growing and although a good enough athlete to play blindside flanker, lock might be his destiny in which case he would emulate his father Andrea who won 15 Test caps for Italy including their historic Six Nations debut against Scotland in 2000. Gritti junior was a standout in their year’s U20 team and is playing for the Clermont Espoirs alongside Mey.