Italy confident of bright future

Italy's Rugby World Cup campaign came to a disappointing end when they lost 36-6 to a rampant Ireland to put paid to their quest to claim a maiden quarter-final berth.

But team members believe there are promising signs and that RWC 2015 in England will offer the Azzurri an even better chance of progressing to the knockout stages.

Several young Italian players have shown they are more than capable of competing at rugby's highest level and will take that experience with them as they develop over the next four years.

"For the young players it will be an important experience for them and help with their development,” captain Sergio Parisse said.

“We have to be proud of what we have done and there are always positives and negatives, but ultimately we didn't achieve our goal."

Young promise

Scrum halves Fabio Semenzato and Edoardo Gori, fly half Riccardo Bocchino, wing Tommaso Benvenuti and flanker Paul Derbyshire are those who will be charged with leading Italy into the quarter-finals in future editions of the Rugby World Cup.

Having graduated from the Italian federation’s rugby academy, they will also have their development aided further by playing for Italian clubs Treviso and Aironi in the Celtic League.

The two clubs only joined the league in 2010 but the impact on Italian rugby has been marked, with the national team showing themselves able to compete physically with the top teams right to the final whistle.

With four more years of high-quality club matches to prepare Italy’s players for Test rugby, the hope is that Italy can match their physical strength with more mental toughness by 2015.

"There is the problem that we play well one week, but then have a disaster the next," full back Andrea Masi said. “It happened this year when we nearly beat Ireland, but then conceded over 50 points to England.

Regular intensity

“We have to get used to playing high-intensity matches week after week. Playing in the Celtic League will help us with our intensity and help us get used to playing at that intensity week in, week out."

Italy will begin a new era under former Perpignan coach Jacques Brunel in the 2012 Six Nations. He replaces Nick Mallett, whose tenure in charge ended with the defeat to Ireland.
While he was disappointed with the way Italy played, he realised his side was up against a team in blistering form and high in confidence.

"Ireland didn't come into the World Cup as pre-tournament favourite because of their record before of losing four games,” Mallett said, “but they targeted Australia as a key game and us as a key game.

"When they get to the quarter-finals they are capable of knocking off any team. I don't think any team will be confident playing them.”