‘Coaching Italy was definitely the best experience of my life’

Former Italy and South Africa head coach Nick Mallett has looked back fondly on his four years in charge of the Azzurri, calling it “the best experience of my life” as he prepared to watch his two former sides meet in Turin next month.

Now 69 and long retired from coaching, Mallett remains one of South Africa’s most respected rugby voices as a television pundit. But ahead of the November 15 clash between Italy and the Springboks at the Allianz Stadium, he says the connection he formed with Italian rugby during his time in charge has never left him.

“I think the progress of Italian rugby has been fantastic since the teams entered the Celtic League, which is now the URC,” said Mallett. “Having two teams in that league was fundamental in strengthening Italy’s international level.

“I give great credit to Giancarlo Dondi, then president of the federation, for having pushed with determination in that direction. It was a decisive choice, and one of the first things I talked to him about when I arrived in Italy — it was absolutely necessary to raise the level of competition.

“I remember a game I saw as soon as I arrived. The ball had actually only been in play for 17 minutes. Every time the referee blew the whistle, there was a scrum, the scrum collapsed, a free-kick came, then a lineout, another mistake… in short, the effective time was very low.

“At international level, I had just seen Australia v England: over 40 minutes of ball in play. In practice, an Italian player in the league played half the actual time compared to an Englishman or an Australian. It was clear that to improve, it was necessary to make the Italians play every week in a more competitive context — and entering the Celtic League was the key to this leap in quality.”

During his four-year spell from 2007 to 2011, Mallett built a side that earned respect for its grit and organisation. He credits Italy’s long-standing stars, as well as the structural shift that allowed new ones to develop.

“Italy has always had talented players — Parisse, Castrogiovanni, Masi — who played abroad in professional leagues,” he said. “The problem was for those who remained in Italy: a more competitive context was needed. Players like Alessandro Zanni were very talented, but they needed to test themselves every week against a higher level.

“In essence, the talent was there then as there is today, but the depth was missing. The best played outside, and those who stayed struggled to make the leap. The first two years were hard, but in the last two excellent results arrived.

“Today I believe that Italy has the ability to beat anyone if they play at their best. They have a solid scrum pack and an excellent backline. Menoncello, for example, is an extraordinary centre — perhaps one of the best in the world right now. If it is on the right day, Italy can be a problem for anyone.”

Looking ahead to the Turin Test, Mallett expects a typically physical contest. “I think South Africa will arrive very focused,” he said. “Italy put the Springboks in trouble in the first Test in the summer, working very well at the breakdown and slowing down the ball. In the second Test, however, South Africa had faster ball and managed to score 48 points.

“The South Africans know that this is one of Italy’s main weapons: they will have to try to get quick possession, with plenty of support close to the ball-carrier. They’ll play directly, with many physical duels, looking for high kicks to put pressure on the Italian back three.

“For Italy it will be essential to hold up in the scrum. You can’t concede six or seven free-kicks against South Africa, because the risk is to find yourself in your own half, suffer a maul and then another free-kick, maybe a yellow card. The static phases will be decisive.”

As for his homeland’s enduring dominance, Mallett sees continuity and meticulous planning behind the Boks’ resilience. “Much of South Africa’s success depends on Rassie Erasmus,” he said. “He is an exceptional coach, with clear long-term plans shared with the team. He created a system to have three reliable players in each position, all capable of playing in a World Cup final.

“So if a starter gets injured, those who come on already have experience and confidence at international level. This is what Italy lacks at the moment: not talent, but great depth. It’s a very important aspect, even if I see great growth from this point of view as well.”

Now a familiar TV presence, Mallett admits life behind the microphone is much easier. “Coaching is far more difficult than playing or commentating,” he said. “As a player you can make a mistake and then make up for it; as a commentator you analyse, but you’re not emotionally involved in the result.

“As a coach, on the other hand, you invest everything in the team, and when you’re in the stands you can only watch. If a referee makes a mistake or a player makes an unexpected error, you cannot intervene. It is an enormous, continuous tension.”

Asked to pick a defining memory from his Italian adventure, Mallett smiled. “I was very lucky with my group of players. I remember telling myself that, to become a good coach in Italy, I had to take guys like Leonardo Ghiraldini or Alessandro Zanni and improve them by 10 percent every year. After four years, they would be 40 percent better.

“That’s my best memory: seeing those players grow. The victory against France in the Six Nations, the first at home, was unforgettable — the lap of honour, the crowd singing the anthem, an extraordinary emotion. It was the only time I cried as a coach.

“And then the game against the All Blacks at the San Siro, in front of 80,000 people: we lost 20-6, but we deserved a penalty try. It was one of the best performances of my tenure.

“At first the players thought I was only there to finish my career and pick up a paycheque. But over time, as I learned Italian better and got to know them as people, a real bond was created. The moment of farewell after the 2011 World Cup was very moving. I genuinely felt like friends with those guys.

“Coaching Italy was definitely the best experience of my life.”