how Italy signed a flamboyant renaissance

By Arnaud Coudry

Published 10 minutes ago, Updated now

Centers Juan Ignacio Brex and Niccolo Cannone commune with supporters after the La Nazionale victory at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Andrew Couldridge / REUTERS

DECRYPTION – Supported by a golden generation, and now coached by the talented Gonzalo Quesada, the Nazionale completed the best Tournament in its history. She is now eighth in the world rankings.

A chaotic half-century has brought many disappointments, heavy setbacks and poor last places in the Six Nations Tournament. Before seeing the light at the end of this endless tunnel. Italy, for its 25th participation in the century-old competition, has just achieved the best performance in its history: two successes (against Scotland and Wales) and a draw (in France) resembling a victory.

“We really have to take advantage of this moment, it’s the best Tournament in our history with two victories and a draw. We could have had three victories except for a very small detail”, savors captain Michele Lamaro, referring to this penalty which hit the post and deprived his team of a tour de force against the Blues. The best transalpine performance until then dated from 2013. The team, then coached by Frenchman Jacques Brunel, had already achieved two successes (against Ireland and France in Rome), it has just done better. And in a way…

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