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'You can put Joe Schmidt, Wayne Smith, the great coaches in the world in there and it's not going to make a significant difference'

(Photo by PA)

Italy have been labelled such an inadequate Guinness Six Nations team that not even someone of the world-class calibre of a Joe Schmidt or a Wayne Smith could make a significant difference to results if they took over from Franco Smith. 

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Saturday’s championship defeat was their 31st loss in succession, a wretched run dating back to February 2015 when they defeated Scotland at Murrayfield. 

So far in the 2021 tournament, they have conceded 187 points, a tally that includes 26 tries, and with just one match remaining next Saturday away to Scotland, they are set to finish bottom of the table yet again. 

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It’s a sorry state of affairs that left ex-Scotland coach Matt Williams and recently retired Italy player Ian McKinley in despair when they summarised the Italians’ latest Six Nations loss to Wales, a seven-try, 48-7 hammering in Rome. 

Speaking on Virgin Media Television in Ireland after the game, Williams said: “You have got to question Franco Smith’s methods but while we are doing it, we also have to realise this is not a coaching problem, this is a systemic problem. 

“You can put Joe Schmidt, Wayne Smith, the great coaches in the world and you throw them in there and it’s not going to make a significant difference. It could make some difference but they have a huge systemic problem that they are refusing to recognise because this has been going on not just for six months or a year or two, this is many, many, years now.

“Their body language from about minute five was they were a beaten side. Your defence is a barometer of your spirit, your commitment and the defence was terrible.”

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McKinley, the 31-year-old Irishman who won nine caps for Italy between 2017 and 2019, four of them off the bench in the Six Nations, added: “I was positive after the England game. You could see some blueprint in what Italy were trying to do, a bit of fight but the last two performances have been way below par from an international standard.

“That was definitely the worst performance, there is no sugar-coating it. From the first kick-off, it just got worse during the game and from an Italian point of view, they were lucky that it wasn’t 60 or more. 

“Wales were clinical but again, much like Ireland a couple of weeks ago, Italy didn’t throw a punch. They couldn’t their attack game going, it was probably too lateral, their defensive drive struggled hugely. 

“You’re just compounding error on top of error. I feel like I’m repeating myself but until you sort out those issues they make a massive difference in international rugby and if you don’t get them the scoreline is going to be what it is. Two years ago we lost 26-15 to Wales. To lose by 40 points is not acceptable.”

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Speaking at half-time, with Italy having already conceded the four-try bonus point to Wales, McKinley said: “That has been the worst performance of this campaign, even in the last few years. It has lacked everything. It started off badly with the first restart from Paolo Garbisi going dead and it got worse from there. 

“Barely a punch has been thrown if you are to use boxing terms. Attack has been poor. Discipline had been poor, defence. It really is hard to watch and as an ex-player with them and a fan it’s really hard.” 

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J
JW 31 minutes ago
Super Rugby is booming, but is it actually helping the All Blacks?

Theres still the problem of it all being behind doors, no consultation or notice of their decision to remove injury checks on the field, an attempt ambitious but which wholly had failed when it had to be removed half way through the competition. How may they have introduced that better if they had of consulted fans and teams? The new body still has a long way to go to be a real pro body like those mentioned.


I certainly hope they can show they can evaluate feedback and reintroduce the idea in an improved concept next year.

two hemispheres.

LOL are you a flat earther as well Gregor?

The average game length (excluding half-time) was 90 minutes and 11s, compared with 91 minutes and seven seconds in 2024.

This stat combined with the ridiculous amount of overtime played must mean theres more than 5minutes of rugby played in SR than any european competition. Incredible.

As an entertainment product, Super Rugby is starting to rebuild itself as one of the game’s hottest properties.

But what’s not clear yet, is whether it’s is going to deliver on its other goal: a competition with the necessary physical and competitive intensity to prepare New Zealand’s best players for what they will encounter in the international arena.

It has been since it’s formation. It was the second attempt and what the Aratipu report considered the best way forward for the game. Which was a move away from the orginal foundations of SR as being just a test ground for the respective National teams. It was time to make it a financially successful competition instead.

And this is the reality of picking an All Blacks squad in the Super Rugby Pacific era

It’s always been the reality even for Super Rugby, even if much less so for ALL other pro sports.

he was practically hinting to media they shouldn’t always be seduced by what they see in Super Rugby

Sititi was the form SR selection, it’s the only reason he made it in.

This year, there could again be a few surprises. Could Dalton Papali’i– a prominent force for the Blues – miss out to the rugged Simon Parker who has been a workhorse for the Chiefs, carrying with an impact his 1.96m, 117kg frame enables?

That would be selecting of form, not who you believe is best test suited.

but will it be the Highlanders’ Fabien Holland who wins a spot because he carted the ball up the middle of the field thanklessly and relentlessly

Yes hopefully, he’s been the stand out Lock this year.

or will the latter’s deft touches and smart kicking be preferred?

Depends on what the teams lacking.

is it mad to wonder whether the combative and defensively adept Finlay Christie is better equipped to play Test rugby

Yes, he’s been proven to not be good enough.

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