Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'He is nowhere near the finished product': Wasps' verdict on Matteo Minozzi, but it isn't a negative

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Wasps boss Lee Blackett has outlined his excitement that his full-back Matteo Minozzi has bounced his way back into form following a difficult spring where he opted out of Italy selection for the Guinness Six Nations and then lost his place in his Gallagher Premiership club’s XV. 

ADVERTISEMENT

It was January 24 when the 24-year-old who has 22 caps for his country made himself unavailable for the Italians’ championship campaign, posting a difficult message to social media to explain his reasons.  

“The last year has changed many things, changing the country and a few months after having to experience the UK lockdown away from everyone has been a great and difficult challenge,” he wrote. “Meanwhile, I’ve worked like never before in my life to find my place in a super competitive reality like the Premiership and to find myself ready for Italy last fall.

Video Spacer

Devin Toner guests on RugbyPass All Access talking about freak athlete second rows

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 23:53
Loaded: 0.00%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 23:53
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Devin Toner guests on RugbyPass All Access talking about freak athlete second rows

    “I wanted to be honest with Franco (Smith, Italy head coach) and I want to be honest with all the Italian enthusiasts who believe in me and love me: I’m physically and mentally tired, a bit too much to live another two months in a bubble. I hope even if you can’t support it, you’ll understand my choice.”

    Minozzi went on to start the next five Premiership matches for Wasps but he then lost his place, having to bench twice before reclaiming the No15 jersey last weekend against Sale and signalling a return to form that has ensured he will wear it again when his club hosts Clermont in the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday. 

    “We all know what a good individual he can be,” said Wasps boss Blackett about Minozzi who first linked up with the Coventry-based club following the 2019 World Cup in Japan. “His English has improved massively which has made a massive difference. Not just that, his overall game has been improving and I still think there are big improvements there, that is the exciting thing with Matteo – he is nowhere near the finished product. There is plenty more in him. 

    “Also what I would say for where we probably struggled a little bit in places is strength in depth. Rob Miller has come in and done a really good job and now there is pressure on Matteo to perform. The more we can have that the better. 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “Paolo Odogwu coming back gives us competition at 13 and on the wings and before you know, that competitive edge, that competition for places is going to drive everyone in the environment. The thing in the last couple of months was if you were fit you were playing. That was not far off where we were.

    “Now you are starting to see a few bodies come back and the competition for places is going to be massive and is going to drive individuals – and we have seen that in Matteo. No player likes being left out but there is that hunger to keep the shirt and I thought he did a good performance last weekend. I actually thought his communication off the ball was the best I have seen in him.” 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

    Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

    New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

    South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

    Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

    The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

    The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

    Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    S
    Solenn Bonnet 8 days ago
    Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

    My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

    CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

    EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

    WhatsApp.. +15617263697

    website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

    Telegram.. +15617263697

    0 Go to comments
    LONG READ
    LONG READ ‘Money is pouring into the All Blacks, yet the more they spend, the less return they get’ ‘Money is pouring into the All Blacks, yet the more they spend, the less return they get’
    Search