Low key, Benneton have been better than any of the Welsh regions at this point in the season. I think Italy used to try to build from the top down and that doesn't work, they're starting from grassroots now and have been for two years and they've pulled out good players like Negri and Minozzi who are about as good as anyone they've produced in their history. (considering Dominguez and Parisse grew up in Argentina) Their U20s had their most successful year ever last year and their U18s beat England, they're showing more at all levels than any European tier 2 nation and they're obviously a more attractive market. If Conor O'Shea could see the light and continue his Director of Rugby duties and get a better head coach in they'd be in a great position to start attacking 6n wins against France and Scotland at home regularly and start putting pressure on the other three if they fail to show up on the day.
Can I use it for my signature?
Anyway, just my two cents.
As I said many times here, when COS started his job, that was basically our year 0. But it's fair to recognize the fundamental value of Kieran Crowley&Michael Bradley's work to understand the path we are along. The 2 coaches of our 2 franchises work very close to COS and, with some players of the domestic championships joining Zebre and Treviso's trainings, we are trying to focus the efforts in one direction.
That never happened in history of FIR, and it's still not perfectly up and running nowdays.
So I think that we need to go on like this and keep COS, Crowley and Bradley for the years to come and let them work.
I can understand the discussions about Italy out of the 6N and I'm perfectly conscious that I'll hear'em for some years in the future because Rome wasn't build in a day. And I think I'm entitled to say that
Patience isn't just a minimum requirment for any sport supporter but we, unfortunately, must mount some upgrades.
I know that it's been 20 years, we wasted a lot of time, money and players but I'm sure that this is the only way to make it work. It'd be a shame to stop it now, and I'm thinking about some fool here in Italy who doesn't want COS to sign for a contract extension.
I expand a thought I have from some time ago: I'd like to see, in the next future, COS only dedicating to de DoR activity and leave the national team bench to Crowley or Bradley. I think that'll be the best solution for us. I see COS as a great organizer but I don't always understand or agree with his picks, before and during a game. Maybe national team coach + DoR it's just too much work for a human being.
What do you think?
