The thing that irritates Nick Mallett about Italian rugby

Nick Mallett’s most notable success during his time as head coach of Italy, between 2008 and 2011, was undoubtedly the 22-21 win over the then reigning Six Nations champions France in his final year in charge of the team.

The Azzurri’s first Six Nations win over Les Bleus and only their third win in 20 Championship matches on his watch was built on resilience, stubbornness and total self-belief – traits that you wouldn’t have ordinarily associated with the perennial wooden spoonists at that point. But it was yet another false dawn. Italy weren’t able to back up the result the following week and the loss to Scotland saw them finish bottom of the table again.

The inability to string together a good run of results also dogged the reigns of Mallett’s successors – Jacques Brunel, Conor O’Shea, Franco Smith and to a lesser extent,  Kieran Crowley. But under current boss Gonzalo Quesada, the Azzurri appeared to have a bit more steel about them.

Two wins and a draw in his first campaign as head coach saw Italy enjoy their most successful Six Nations to date in 2024, and this year’s round two win over Wales gave hope that Italy could do what they did under Mallett and knock over the French.

For 20 minutes last Sunday, the belief was still there. However, what transpired thereafter – a 73-24 massacre at the hands of Les Bleus – has led to more head-scratching and soul-searching.

Mallett was one of those at a loss to explain why Italy capitulated so badly and used this week’s episode of RugbyPass TV’s Boks Office to voice his frustration.

The impassioned former Italy and Springboks head coach said: “It’s a really irritating aspect of Italian rugby that they can have a season like last year where they won two and drew one, and they should have probably won the game against France away from home (13-13), and then you wonder what on earth happened in this game.

“Was it because of France losing to England, getting crapped out in the papers, having to read how useless they are, and then they get up off the floor and produce the goods? Of course, that’s a big motivating factor for the French with their Latin temperament.

“But the Italians, having beaten Wales, you’d have thought they’d have a bit of confidence going into this game, certainly to keep it closer. But to concede 12 tries, it was 11 when I stopped watching, it was a hiding, a real hiding.”