Italy is no longer this small, insignificant Tournament team, which has had a string of major defeats to the point of seeing its place in the elite of European rugby being called into question, year after year. A year after a resounding victory in Wales (20-22), which had put an end to a series of 36 defeats in a row, the Nazionale now makes the greats of Europe tremble.
At the opening of the Six Nations Tournament, the transalpine XV had resisted the French team until the end (24-29). This Saturday, for the third day, coach Kieran Crowley’s men lost but they held off the Irish (20-34), world number one, for a long time, deploying exciting offensive movements.
Grand Slam in sight for Ireland
The start of the match, with a quick try from the Irish second row James Ryan, had however raised fears of the worst. And even if the Italians had responded quickly with their scrum half Stephen Varney, the XV of Clover had scored three additional tries to win the offensive bonus and bring the score to 10-24 after 35 minutes of play. Just before the break, a interception by winger Pierre Bruno rekindled the hopes of the Italians (17-24), especially as a penalty from Montpellier Paolo Garbisi at the start of the second period reduced his side to four small points (20-24).
But the last quarter of an hour was fatal to the teammates of the nugget Ange Capuozzo, weaned from good balls: a penalty from Ross Byrne then a try from Mack Hansen gave the Irish a third improved success in three matches in this Tournament. Coach Andy Farrell’s men are heading for victory in the Tournament: they still have a trip to Scotland (March 12) and the reception of England (March 18) to complete a Grand Slam, the first since 2018.