The Six Nations - Italy
from The Sporting Almanac Podcast
The Six Nations - Italy 16 wins in 130 games in the Six Nations paints a picture of Italy as perennial whipping boys, fodder for the more established nations, perhaps even unworthy of their place at the top table of European and Northern Hemisphere Rugby Union. But it does not tell the full story of Italy's continuous and steady rise and genuine improvement since they first joined the competition in the year 2000. Playing catch up to five other nations where Rugby Union is in some cases a national obsession, in others a well organised and established secondary national sport, especially when you yourselves have fingers in so many sporting pies spreading talent pools thin - it was never going to be easy, and it was never going to be quick. But slowly and surely, led by legends of the game like Andrea Masi, the Bergamasco brothers and the irrepressible Sergio Parisse, the Italians have built fast, caught up and now stand as a genuine challenge to anyone in the tournament, especially at home. In this episode we look at the quarter century of Italy in the competition and ask the important questions: How good are Italy really now? Could they win the Six Nations in the next decade? And what is it they have in common with Micah Richards? For the answers to these and more, friends, Romans, countrymen, lend us your ears!
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