While Italy may have only won four out of 20 matches since Conor O’Shea’s arrival as national team head coach, it’s worth looking at club sides Zebre and Treviso to see true signs of rugby’s development in Italy.
The Irishman was tasked with one of the most difficult jobs in world rugby when he took up the role in March 2016 after the Azzurri had finished bottom of the Six Nations in four out of the last five seasons.
But although many will point to the 138 points shipped in the first three matches of the championship as a sign of hardly any progress, positive changes are starting to show for the Pro14 sides.
A week after Ireland crushed Italy 56-19 in Dublin, Benetton and Zebre secured a first away double for Italian clubs in the league’s history.
Interestingly, Benetton have won eight out of 16 matches in the Pro14 this term – a significant improvement from three, three and five victories in their last three campaigns.
For Zebre, four wins to date and a number of close defeats represent a positive following three, five and three wins since the 2014/15 Pro 12 season.
Although Zebre are not at Benetton’s level – losing 24-17 away in December – Italian clubs have earned respect from their rivals due to their improvements in skillset, game plan and ability to play a more attractive brand of rugby.
For team stats, Zebre are two tries away from matching their 38 tries scored in the whole of last season – with another four regular season matches still remaining – while Benetton have already scored one more try than last season.
It, without doubt, represents a massive step forward for Italian rugby.
O’Shea’s squad is mainly made up of players from the local clubs with 15 from Benetton, 13 from Treviso and one each from Stade Francais, Toulouse and Fiamme Oro in Rome.
Zebre star Matteo Minozzi has been the stand-out player for the national side this Six Nations – an example of a young star developed through the Italian system.
Angelo Esposito is another flyer for the Parma side – one of the leading lights of the Italian back-line – who is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
The Azzurri’s results may not be capturing the attention of fans worldwide but O’Shea is the chief lieutenant orchestrating the changes – drafting together two clubs and helping with the recruitment of players and coaches beneath.
Michael Bradley, Brendan Venter, Wayne Smith and Mike Catt are just some of the big names O’Shea has roped in to aid the development of Italian rugby.
With signs of progress beginning to show, Italian club rugby is certainly in its most promising place yet.
