venerdì 3 febbraio 2012

Know your enemy

Come ricordato ieri, il sito d'informazione sportiva irlandese TheScore.ie ha intervistato gli autori di questo blog assieme ad altri colleghi europei in vista del Six Nations 2012: "We have convened a meeting of some of Europe’s top rugby bloggers to find out exactly what they’re expecting from this year’s tournament".
Di seguito, le nostre risposte. 

Dario Mazzocchi is a 29-year-old journalist from Lodi, near Milan in northern Italy. He has been managing Right Rugby with his colleague Abr since 2007. 
How do you expect Italy to do this time out? Tough question, because it’s the beginning of a new chapter. Jacques Brunel has promised more-or-less French rugby with deep and creative play and wants to improve our back line; so, that’s a good challenge. Honestly, I don’t expect a lot because the real new changes will start in summer, with new faces and an improved relationship between players and coach. It’s not easy to change a whole management in few weeks, but I think we’ll have fun.

Which area of the Italian side keeps you awake at night with worry? Our scrum could be the weakest area, in a paradoxical way. Everyone knows the Italian pack strength, the fact is that they must confirm it when they’ll be under pressure. Sometimes in the past it didn’t happen. Looking at the Six Nations squad, I’m afraid the wings will be the weakest part of the team. A clear example — Giovanbattista Venditti is a strong boy (stout and fast) but he lacks determination when he’s on the pitch with his team, Aironi. Everybody must be ready.

Who’s Italy’s key man for 2012? As a former (and very poor) back-row, I bet on Robert Barbieri. He has grown up a lot, he’s part of a strong back row (Parisse, Derbyshire, Zanni) and he shown his mental strength and ability playing with his team, Benetton Treviso, who have been tough opponents in Pro12 and Heineken Cup. A good ball carrier and a cynical fetcher. If Brunel’s plans become reality, Tommaso Benvenuti could make the difference in the offensive situations, too. 

Who’s the one rising star we should all keep an eye on? Fabio Semenzato, to see if he can build on his last experience in the Championship. I’m quite sure he wont fail. 

Your (brutally honest) thoughts on Ireland and their chances… Ireland never die. Last year, they ruined England’s expectations of a Grand Slam; at the Rugby World Cup, they won against Australia in a huge physical match. From my point of view, Ireland won’t win the Six Nations. They didn’t change head coach but, like Italy, they are entering a new phase – and they’ll miss Ronan O’Gara’s drop-goals. 

Who will win the tournament (and are they good enough to win a Grand Slam)? I say France and they could also be good enough to win a Grand Slam, but we shouldn’t forget they can be able to do everything. I mean, they can win a match without problems, but at the same time they can complicate their own plans. It’s the French way. Don’t forget they made it to the Rugby World Cup final with two defeats in the pool stage. And I’m curious to see Wales: they have heart and passion, they had a good World Cup and now they’re called to confirm that form and to win.

Per leggere il resto, con gli interventi molto più degni del nostro di rugby blogger d'élite dalla Scozia (Scottish Rugby Blog)  e Inghilterra (Total Flanker), andate qui; i commenti dal Galles (The Coal Face), Francia (Rencontresaxv), oltre ovviamente a quello sull'Irlanda (non del padrone  di casa ma di Wiff of Cordite), li trovate qui.
Così, se volete, grazie all'iniziativa degli amici irlandesi è a disposizione di tutti una collezione di preview sul Sei Nazioni un po' più vive e solidamente "dall'interno" di quelle sovente banali e scontate normalmente reperibili qui da noi in provincia.

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