If Italy play like they did in the second half, minus the handling errors, then they have a real chance against the Pumas - they have a pack weakened by injury, especially the back row, and what looks to me a really odd back line selection. I thought Parisse looked a little off the pace, what did you Italians think? He's still a quality player and his reading of the game was exceptional as ever, but he didn't quite dominate the game like you expect from him. Is he getting older ... ?
I'm really looking forward to this one, I'm in two minds about who I want to win ... I consider Argentina my second team to some degree, but there's no doubt the win is more important to Italy. It's a real shame reading some of the stuff in this thread about how the domestic game is struggling, a stronger Italy side would be good for European and world rugby, not to mention attracting a few more Italian fans to the game. I'm an English teacher in London, so I have met and spoken to a lot of people from all over the world, including Italy, and it has always struck me how little interest Italians in general actually have in rugby. Basically, I get the impression for most of Italy it's football or nothing, which is a real shame.
Sorry for the late answer, I was lost in the forum
Maybe my answer is not useful because it's a late one, but I give you my 2 cents anyway.
Italy lost to Pumas simply because we are not used to manage point to point games. We have a strange "fear of winning", someone could call it looser mentality. And this is really like that, it's crystal clear to me how our players lose their calmness and start acting chaotic, and related penalties come along. It's something you see less by us when we are against much stronger teams or losing by a huge gap. That's why they start playing without pressure and they have unconsciously nothing to lose.
That's our biggest problem for the National major Team, way before our ridiculous lack of attacking game.
Basis rugby struggles because of another huge problem: we have no graduated teachers and trainers or coaches. We really need to learn how to create a production chain of skilled players. Nowdays we just put faith in talented born players and average workers.
About Parisse: recently he declared he played whole last year with a back injury, which didn't allow him to play as he's used to. In fact, after this summer in which he hasn't been selected for our Tour he took a good rest, now he's back in shape and he proved that in last 2 games (to me, MoM with Samoa).
I don't agree with MauriSca7 about his attitude with National team, at all. I think opposite. He's always the last one who drops battle weapons and tries to put light in every aspect of our game. Maybe he's not perfect with strategy choices during the game, he's surely latin
But I trust in his effort with Azzurri without doubt.
Your impression about sport in Italy is more or less correct, but it's much more true if you're looking it from a media point of view. If you watch tv or listen to radio, 99% is football. In reality, we have a lot of people involved in volleyball, basketball, cycling, swimming and so on. But it's anyway the minority, I agree.
This is why in Italy sports are almost ignored at every stage of schools. Like in the highschool I attended at 2 hour per week physical education lesson. And that's it. If you want to practice sport you have to do it after school.
