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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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Finn Russell guests on RugbyPass Offload with Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

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Finn Russell guests on RugbyPass Offload with Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

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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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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