Italy new coach (after RWC): Nick Mallet

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>and well done to Italy for securing Mallets services. The 6N crown is not too far away now.[/b]

a little bit too optimistic, I'm afraid...
[/b][/quote]

It's gonna happen some time soon enough...Mallet is gonna continue building the foundation started by Kirwan & Berbizier and in 20 years time, you could be a powerhouse.

[/b][/quote]

They need to sort out the league structure first. Italy can't just keep relying on sending players to France and England forever you know, especially if player quotas are imposed...

 

[danit]

<div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>and well done to Italy for securing Mallets services. The 6N crown is not too far away now.[/b]

a little bit too optimistic, I'm afraid...
[/b][/quote]

It's gonna happen some time soon enough...Mallet is gonna continue building the foundation started by Kirwan & Berbizier and in 20 years time, you could be a powerhouse.

[/b][/quote]

They need to sort out the league structure first. Italy can't just keep relying on sending players to France and England forever you know, especially if player quotas are imposed...
[/b][/quote]well, actually Pumas are proving that you can have a strong national team with no domestic league at all (or just "amateurs" structures), but I agree Italy should make big changes in domestic league

something's gonna happen from 2008/2009 season

 

[gareth]

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[Deano]

danit you are a specialist on the state of our rugby... any ideas on what plans are being proposed for the league?

Also any ideas on what faces will be introduced in to the Italy senior team (especially for 9-10 position) and what transfers have been happening for any of the NT players?

 

[danit]

danit you are a specialist on the state of our rugby... any ideas on what plans are being proposed for the league?[/b]

there are consistent rumors about the entry of a couple (maybe 3) italian teams in the Celtic League from 2008/2009 season

first team should be Treviso with his actual managment and property, a completely private club

second team should be a co-partecipated club between FIR and privates, a club based around Parma, don't know exactly wich actual clubs are going to have shares in it (probably the two teams form Parma plus probably Viadana and/or Calvisano: all these towns are very close)

other teams from Veneto (Padova, Rovigo) and some clubs from Rome would love to build up a team too, but I think they won't be ready for the next season

italian Super10 should stay as it is, a professional league with actual clubs (Treviso should play with a B team)

nothing is official yet, just rumors...

Also any ideas on what faces will be introduced in to the Italy senior team (especially for 9-10 position)[/b]

well, for sure there will be some new faces from the U21 team, some of them were already in the 40 men group for the RWC (Paul Derbyshire, 21: flanker/n. 8, born, raised and formed in Italy despite of his name, played for Stade Francais espoirs last year, will be at Parma this year - Enrico Patrizio, 22: center from Padova - Alberto Sgarbi, 21: center/utility back from Treviso) some others will join the team

no. 9 I think will be picked up Picone, scrumhalf from Treviso who had big injury problem last year otherwise he would have been Troncon backup at RWC, Semenzato (21 yrs old) has big talent too even if he's too sour yet

no. 10 there's a big hole, some interesting youngsters but far from being ready for international level, I dunno what Mallet could do...

and what transfers have been happening for any of the NT players? [/b]

more relevant transfers are Festuccia and Lo Cicero to Racing Metro Paris, Bernabò to Brive and prop Aguero (born in Argentina but fully formed in Italy as he came to Italy when he was less than a kid) to Saracens

Stanojevic came back to Italy and will play his rugby for Calvisano

 

[Deano]

Thanks for the info. Yes I heard of most of them U21 players and we had a good u21 6N last year so hopefully they can pick up the baton.

 

[dreyfuss]

Nick Mallet is an excellent choice for southafrican rugby is actually the best in the world.

 

[heinsmit]

nick mallett will do a world of good for italy. perhaps they will become more respected in terms of six nations (maybe they wont finish last every time)! more importantly, mallett will probably help them with their discipline, as right now they are a bunch of diving cheats.

 

[Deano]

nick mallett will do a world of good for italy. perhaps they will become more respected in terms of six nations (maybe they wont finish last every time)! more importantly, mallett will probably help them with their discipline, as right now they are a bunch of diving cheats. [/b]

I didnt think you could be a diving cheat in rugby !?!