Time to front up in this Italian job

Feb 23 2008 by Carolyn Hitt, Western Mail

IT IS one of the great ironies of sport that the nation that gave the world Casanova does not play sexy rugby. That’s not to say the men from the land of the Latin lover don’t look the part.

Sergio Parisse will happily pose with nothing but an oval ball to preserve his modesty in that saucy Stade Francais calendar while the Bergamasco brothers have the faces of Botticelli angels and physiques fit for Michelangelo’s marble. Marco Bortolami’s doe-eyed gaze, meanwhile, gives him the aura of a Fellini leading man.

The Italians were also among the first to embrace the muscle- defining sausage-skin kit. And, while it is worn for its tackle- shrugging non-grip qualities, aesthetics would also have played a part for this most style-conscious of countries.

Moving from fashion to passion, there is no more stirring sight in the Six Nations than the players’ positively operatic rendition of their national anthem.

But come kick-off, the Latin spirit transforms into something altogether more pragmatic. Italian rugby is built around formidable forwards rather than beautiful backs.

We may keep an eager eye on the production line of the Outside Half Factory but great Italian props are cranked out quicker than linguine from a pasta cutter.

Front rowers like the mighty Martin Castrogiovanni, whose achievements include that most unlikely of feats for a prop – a hat-trick of tries.

And Andrea Lo Cicero, the Sicilian on the bench today who marked his 50th cap with that historic 37-17 away win against Scotland last year.

The Azzurri prop idols are at the heart of their approach.

It’s a country that’s given civilisation great art, music and architecture, yet on the rugbyfield, Italy’s real talent is for crushing the creativity out of the opposition.

As a tactic, it may be more mafioso than Michelangelo, but it works for them.

England almost suffered a Roman ruin when starved of the ball in the second half while Ireland won by just a score.

It just makes you wonder how good Italy could be if their backs could match their pack.

Coach Nick Mallet is already applying his considerable rugby intellect to the troublesome number 10 spot, converting centre Andrea Masi into a fly half.

He may yet develop enough romance behind the scrum to complement his wham, bam, thank you ma’am forwards.

Today, the latter will be in search of the G-atland Spot – the supposed weak spot of the front row the Welsh coach has selected.

Pause, touch and engage with our allegedly vulnerable trio and the Azzurri prop idols believe, while they’re driven to the heights of ecstasy, we’ll just be driven back.

Even Gatland himself has conceded the choice of Dragons tighthead Rhys Thomas is a gamble, but he is prepared to front up if his front row backfires.

“It is a risk. If it doesn’t work, there will be criticism and I understand that,” he says.

But this is a risk worth taking. Such experimentation shows he is focused on long-term gain.

If it pays off – and Thomas has been challenged by Gatland to show what he can do – it builds depth in the position that needs it most.

Tightheads are becoming as endangered a species as top tenors in Wales.

Italy have increasingly viewed the Welsh game as winnable. Today is not the day to be wooed into a state of complacency and it all starts up front.

It’s three years since we’ve beaten them and it’s up to Gatland’s rejigged front row to tell the land of Casanova that this is the end of the affair.