Azzurri Soul...Wooden Heart?

pier12345 · Messaggio da **pier12345** » 29 gen 2006, 12:06

Berbizier finds Azzurri soul - but they still have a wooden heart
 
 DAVID MOONEY IN ROME
 
 Fonte ScotsmanonSunday
 <A HREF="http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=144102006" TARGET="_blank">Page Title</A>
 
 ITALY coach Pierre Berbizier is determined to give youth its fling as he attempts to avoid the country's traditional wooden spoon in his debut season.
 The Azzurri have just two home matches - against England and Scotland - with the clash against Frank Hadden's side on March 18 at the Stadio Flaminio now looking to be the definitive crunch match in every sense of the word.
 
 
 The former French scrum-half, who took over when Kiwi John Kirwan was sacked after being handed the dreaded wooden utensil at the end of last season, insists - as do so many coaches - that this Six Nations will be the bedrock for his World Cup campaign in 2007.
 And, in the manner of new brooms everywhere, Berbizier has set about sweeping away what he considers the dead wood.
 So out go Treviso legend Alessandro Troncon, arguably the nation's greatest ever player, and Rovigo icon Pepe Scanavacca in a clear show of intent. Berbizier, henceforth, will pick only on form and not on fame.
 That also means a return for Gran Parma's Italian/Kiwi stand-off Rima Wakarua, a clinical presence so far this season in the Italian Super 10.
 Berbizier now knows Italy have at their disposal the most consistently accurate goal-kicker since Diego Dominguez hung up his boots.
 Also returning after missing the November tests are backs speedster Simon Piccone, veteran Denis Dallan and experienced forwards Salvatore Perugini and Santiago Dellape. Another "new" face is classy utility back Ezio Galon from Overmach Parma. Galon, after serving six seasons in both the French Top 14 and Prod2 , has been recalled by Berbizier not for sentimental reasons, but simply because Galon has performed outstandingly at centre, wing and full-back during his years in Italian Super 10.
 That said, Berbizier has gone out of his way to praise his predecessor Kirwan, saying that he will continue to develop the young squad left by the former All Black.
 "Our priority in this Six Nations is not victories at all costs but to be more competitive and to leave a good impression on the field," said the Frenchman.
 Italy, captained by 26-year-old lock Marco Bartolami, have one of the youngest international squads in the championship, with an average age of 25.
 So, new faces, new coach, new esprit du guerre, new edition of the Six Nations, but will it be more of the same for the Azzurri?
 Italian rugby is at a crossroads, and faces much soul-searching. Impeding decisions include whether to reform the current Super 10 into four regional teams, whether to bring back their star players from France, England and elsewhere, whether to severely limit the influx of foreign players in the domestic leagues, whether to initiate a system of national rugby academies. Sound familiar? Bebizier has laid down the gauntlet to the powers-that-be in Italian rugby, stating that by 2007 Italy must move to a format of four, or possibly six, regional teams and pursue more aggressively the development of young local talent.
 There is an abundance of gifted and motivated young players - the priority now is to find space for them. This lack of serious investment in skill levels and academies at a national level could yet again be the downfall of the Azzurri in the 2006 Six Nations.
 Their forwards, particularly the front row, can mix it with the best and some would find their way on to most top-ten IRB-ranked teams. They have a splendid back row and Bartolami and Bourgoin's Carlo Del Fava are quickly growing into seasoned international locks.
 But it is in the backs where they still have problems competing at international level.
 Paul Griffen at scrum-half is a snappy customer and when on form can be a handful. But the pivotal No.10 position is still precarious, with Wakarua better known as a kicker than creator and, with Gert Peens injured, the full-back's jersey goes to Galon.
 The late loss of one of their real stars, Gonzalo Canale of Clermont, is a big blow and while they have some speed on the wings they lack a real match breaker. In defence, they were badly shown up against quality opposition such as Argentina in November. They may be in for a torrid time against deep counter attacking sides such as Scotland and France or the mercurial skills of the Irish centres.
 Being the national coach for the Azzurri in any sport is not an easy job. Ask the fallen of the national football side or Berbizier's five predecessors. But perhaps the blend of Gallic flair and Italian passion may just be the recipe to bring this young team to new heights.
 Berbizier has instilled a new sense of confidence in Italian rugby, especially after famously defeating the Pumas in Cordoba during the summer, and one thing is for sure - to beat the Azzurri, particularly in Rome, Scotland will need to bring their best game.
 Despite all this, Berbizier should start to find a place in his kitchen drawer for that awful, large wooden thing by March.
 
 
 Steve Hansen on Italy
 
 STRENGTHS: They ran Argentina close this time around and beat Fiji in the snow, so Pierre Berbizier was a sound choice to take over from John Kirwan. He has the experience and understands the Italian mindset. Everyone is aware they have a terrific set of forwards, who play with great spirit and endeavour, but Berbizier will know that is not enough any more. It's good that the better players are now enjoying a consistently higher level of rugby in France with the likes of Parisse and the Bergamascos at Stade and skipper Bortolami at Narbonne.
 WEAKNESSES: Actually I think they've gone backwards. They need to play a more expansive game, and that is a chicken-and-egg situation. It reminds me of the earlier stages of Wales's development. People said our guys back then didn't have the skills, but you never get better at anything unless you are doing it. Sometimes their pack have started a championship on fire, and tired towards the end. Perhaps they need the incentive of seeing the team improve and develop in other areas to sustain their effort. It doesn't help that their domestic structure lacks depth, so too many players in their squad are not exposed to dynamic rugby on a weekly basis.
 KEY PLAYERS: Their tight five and whoever they play in midfield. The former should perform; the latter need to develop and start to ask more questions of defences.
 WHERE THEY'LL FINISH AND WHY: Sadly I think they will struggle again. I sense they are not comfortable going to places like Cardiff and Dublin. Their best chance is to get in among or even dominate the English and Scots forwards in Rome, and just have a real go outside. But I suspect they will fight it out for last place again, and if pushed, I'll place them sixth. Which is a shame, because they are good for the tournament, and one day they will improve sufficiently to make the others sit up and take notice. Not yet though.
 SQUAD: Forwards: Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), M Bortolami (Narbonne), M Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), C-A Del Fava (Bourgoin), S Dellape (Agen), C Festuccia

AquilanteDaNorcia · Messaggio da **AquilanteDaNorcia** » 29 gen 2006, 12:15

Dead wood significa rami secchi? Poveri Troncon e Scanavacca...
 
 "Wooden heart", "dead wood", "troncon", "wooden spoon"... David crede che l'anima dell'Italia sia fatta di legno: ma come tanti piccoli e teneri Pinocchio gli azzurri sapranno trasformarsi in veri giocatori grazie alla bacchetta magica della fata azzurra Berbizier!

THAKER · Messaggio da **THAKER** » 29 gen 2006, 12:45

"Ma se si china la Fata Turchina..."

i-ching · Messaggio da **i-ching** » 29 gen 2006, 12:45

PIER OCCHIO ALL'ESORDIO..... :-Y :-Y :-Y

AquilanteDaNorcia · Messaggio da **AquilanteDaNorcia** » 29 gen 2006, 12:53

<IMG SRC="http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/8277/fata019xz.gif">

pier12345 · Messaggio da **pier12345** » 29 gen 2006, 12:55

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 29-01-2006 alle ore 12:45, i-ching wrote:
 PIER OCCHIO ALL'ESORDIO..... :-Y :-Y :-Y

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Rino · Messaggio da **Rino** » 29 gen 2006, 13:05

A me sembra che non abbia fatto altro che descrivere correttamente la realtà.
 
 Ovviamente nessuno ci può impedire di sognare che a Dublino gli Azzurri dimostrino,fosse anche per un solo giorno, che la realtà sta rapidamente cambiando. Se non vi fosse questa speranza io e gli altri 2999 che saranno nella capitale irlandese sarebbero rimasti a casa con le propeie famiglie.
 
 Rino

THAKER · Messaggio da **THAKER** » 29 gen 2006, 13:58

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 29-01-2006 alle ore 12:53, AquilanteDaNorcia wrote:
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 Non ti chiederò mai di sposarmi (anche x' poi Billingham mi toglierebbe il saluto!!!), ma appena passi da Brescia una birra te la offro dopo questa meraviglia!!!

i-ching · Messaggio da **i-ching** » 29 gen 2006, 14:07

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 29-01-2006 alle ore 12:53, AquilanteDaNorcia wrote:
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 l'ha fatto diventare un bambino-vero?

AquilanteDaNorcia · Messaggio da **AquilanteDaNorcia** » 29 gen 2006, 14:08

Ora ti spezzerò il cuore, Thak, ma credo che tra noi non ci debbano essere segreti: non bevo alcoolici, non mangio carne ed ultimamente non mangio più nemmeno il formaggio (perché pare che per farlo si debba prelevare una sostanza -il caglio- contenuto nello stomaco dei vitelli). Insomma, sono un rugbista degenere

billingham · Messaggio da **billingham** » 29 gen 2006, 14:14

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 29-01-2006 alle ore 14:08, AquilanteDaNorcia wrote:
 Ora ti spezzerò il cuore, Thak, ma credo che tra noi non ci debbano essere segreti: non bevo alcoolici, non mangio carne ed ultimamente non mangio più nemmeno il formaggio (perché pare che per farlo si debba prelevare una sostanza -il caglio- contenuto nello stomaco dei vitelli). Insomma, sono un rugbista degenere

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comincio a consolarmi del tuo abbandono...
 ma alla partita dell'anno di roma ci sei?

THAKER · Messaggio da **THAKER** » 29 gen 2006, 14:14

Approvo x il formaggio...
 
 X il resto... VERGOGNATI!!!!!!
 
 QUOQUE TU!!!
 
 VOGLIO CHE TU SIA OSTRACIZZATO, E CHE VENGANO CANCELLATE TUTTE LE IMMAGINI CHE TI RIGUARDANO DA RUGBY.IT
 
 OH GRANDE KINO PENSACI TU!!!
 
 .... e va bhe, ti lascio scegliere l'arma, spuma bianca o spuma nera? Al limite un bicchiere di cedrata...

AquilanteDaNorcia · Messaggio da **AquilanteDaNorcia** » 29 gen 2006, 14:21

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 29-01-2006 alle ore 14:14, THAKER wrote:
 QUOQUE TU!!!
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 No, sono perito agrario. Ai fornelli non sono mai stato un granché...
 
 (e adesso vediamo se riuscite a scrivere una stupidata più stupida di questa...

)