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<blockquote data-quote="psychic duck" data-source="post: 558352" data-attributes="member: 48703">Drawing with Ireland is a good result, however looking at the wider picture of results though. Italy&#039;s U20 side got relegated out of the Junior World Cup and will be playing in the JWRT alongside the likes of Portugal, Chile, Canada, Tonga and Japan this year. They also have lost to Georgia and Japan within the past year at junior level. That would never happen to France.Look at the ages of this list of new players you name though. Cittadini is 30, Barbieri is 28, Pavanello is 30, Geldenhuys is 31. Not going to be around for much longer than 5 years. No offence, but Italy really hasn&#039;t produced a noteworthy forward who is younger than 24.Favaro is the only decent young forward Italy have produced since RWC 2007, and even he&#039;s not good enough to carry a team.Unless they rectify this. They could decline when the Parisse/Castro generation of forwards retire.Yes, the backs have played much better this year than some other years. And also they have found younger players such as Benvenuti and Venditti who will be there for 10 years. Havong said that though, I wouldn&#039;t say any of their backs would really challenge to get in the big 4 of the 6 Nations teams, but they are more competent than before.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="psychic duck, post: 558352, member: 48703"] Drawing with Ireland is a good result, however looking at the wider picture of results though. Italy's U20 side got relegated out of the Junior World Cup and will be playing in the JWRT alongside the likes of Portugal, Chile, Canada, Tonga and Japan this year. They also have lost to Georgia and Japan within the past year at junior level. That would never happen to France. Look at the ages of this list of new players you name though. Cittadini is 30, Barbieri is 28, Pavanello is 30, Geldenhuys is 31. Not going to be around for much longer than 5 years. No offence, but Italy really hasn't produced a noteworthy forward who is younger than 24. Favaro is the only decent young forward Italy have produced since RWC 2007, and even he's not good enough to carry a team. Unless they rectify this. They could decline when the Parisse/Castro generation of forwards retire. Yes, the backs have played much better this year than some other years. And also they have found younger players such as Benvenuti and Venditti who will be there for 10 years. Havong said that though, I wouldn't say any of their backs would really challenge to get in the big 4 of the 6 Nations teams, but they are more competent than before. [/QUOTE]

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