Six Nations 
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'We have had a great tournament, but can do better than this'
As far as Michele Lamaro is concerned, the future has already arrived for Italian rugby.
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The inspirational flanker has just captained the Azzurri to their best ever Six Nations campaign, with wins over Scotland and Wales, plus a draw away to France which could so easily have been another victory.
It’s taken them up to eighth in the world rankings, above both Australia and Wales, equalling their highest previous position.
Openside Lamaro has played a pivotal role, putting in no fewer than 103 tackles during the Championship, setting a new tournament record, surpassing the 100 by Scotland lock Johnny Gray in 2018. He is the very definition of leading from the front.
This season has also seen Italy’s two BKT URC teams take significant strides forward.
Lamaro’s Benetton Rugby have picked up ten wins and a draw from their 15 matches in all competitions, putting them firmly in the mix for a BKT URC play-off spot and securing a Challenge Cup last 16 tie at home to the Emirates Lions.
Meanwhile, Zebre Rugby have already comfortably surpassed their points tally from the whole of last season in the league and have been far more competitive, as demonstrated by them collecting eight bonus points.
Now the aim of both sides will be to build on the success of the national team, with Zebre having a big BKT URC game at home to table-topping Leinster Rugby this weekend and Benetton travelling to the Scarlets.
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These are special days to be involved in Italian rugby, as the Rome-raised Lamaro confirms.
“Over the last ten years, I think I have heard thousands of times that we have to work for the future and that there is a bright future,” he says.
“Honestly, I am sick of that. I want to live the moment, we want to live now.
“We want to win now and be competitive now, not tomorrow, not the next day.
“This is the main thing we need to improve in our heads.
“Obviously it’s tough in Italy because we haven’t had a winning culture, so you need to create a strong base and an environment where young players can express themselves in the best way.
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“The aim for our clubs and for the national team is to give them that chance. We have gained experience and we can share it with the youngest ones.
“So, if you tell me Italy has a bright future, I will tell you yes, but tomorrow is the day that we want to win again.”
After coming tantalisingly close to beating France in Lille, with Paolo Garbisi’s last-gasp penalty striking an upright, Italy then beat Scotland 31-29 before defeating Wales 24-21 in Cardiff.
“This is everything for us,” said the 25-year-old Lamaro following Saturday’s triumph at the Principality Stadium.
“This is the reason why we step onto the pitch every single day and the reason why we work that hard.
“Every time we play, we want to win and achieve these sort of results.
“I am just proud of my team. We have worked so hard in the last few years.
“We want to achieve even more now. We have had a great tournament, but can do better than this.
“We have to be a lot more consistent to get the respect we want.
“The emotion I feel is we have achieved one of our goals since the start of the season.
“I want to keep on winning and keep on this wave that we are on at the moment. Now we have got a job to do with our clubs.”
Credit: URC
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments