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<P><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Allego lo Stato della Nazione secondo Planet
Rugby: in sintesi, giudizio positivo sui progressi seppur lenti ma costanti dei
nostri, ma anche una sottolineatura della mancanza di una apertura di alto
livello,</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Viene anche sottolineato come Parisse avrebbe
meritato il premio di miglior giocatore del 6 Nazioni che è andato a Shane
Williams solo perchè giocava nella squadra
vittoriosa.</FONT></P></A></DIV></DIV></H2>
<H2 class=clear><SPAN id=intelliTXT><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </H2>
<H2 class=clear><SPAN><FONT size=2><B></B></FONT></SPAN> </H2>
<H2 class=clear><SPAN><FONT size=2><B>The era of Nick Mallett has begun and
Italy have moved a little step forward again. Progress at a snail's pace is
better than no progress at all, and Italy have to keep looking at the bright
side.</B> <BR><BR>It's been a rough ride for the <I>Azzurri</I> since they
joined the Six Nations. Originally cannon fodder for the other five, the team
has come on in leaps and bounds initially, and now is much more involved in a
process of fine-tuning than of striving to find their place. <BR><BR>The pack is
superb. Martin Castrogiovanni and Sergio Parisse stand out on most occasions,
but the contributions of, say, Josh Sole, Andrea Lo Cicero, and Santiago Dellape
are priceless to the Italian cause. In no match could the Italians be forced to
hold hands up and confess to being bullied out of the game up front. <BR><BR>Out
wide there is talent too. Kaine Robertson gets better and better, Mirco
Bergamasco and Gonzalo Canale are running fine lines, and Andrea Marcato might
have held out the more established David Bortolussi on form alone had the latter
recovered from injury. At scrum-half, Simon Picone is bedding in nicely, and he
still has plenty of miles to go on his clock. <BR><BR>Anyone notice the glaring
omission? Italy desperately need a fly-half. Andrea Masi is a superb player, but
not at fly-half. It requires an instinctive decision-maker at this level,
someone who has played in the position for a long time. Masi is a centre by
trade, and to be honest, is one good enough to give either of the other two a
run for their money in the starting XV. But he is no international fly-half, and
especially not when those outside him do not play the 'second five-eighth' role
New Zealanders are so fond of. Masi not only found himself under pressure, he
had nobody to take it off him - it looked a very lonely tournament for the
Biarritz man. <BR><BR>But progress was made. Italy could have beaten England,
fought well against Ireland and France, and of course, did find the resolve
within to come from behind and beat Scotland. Only Wales' running game proved to
be utterly insurmountable. Tactically they were sound, and they are clearly
fitter in both body and mind. But until that fly-half is found, it just might
not be enough. <BR><BR><B>Star man:</B> Plenty of Italians were bold and
resilient, but the talents of <B>Sergio Parisse</B> stand out by a country mile.
Considering his consistent brilliance in adversity, it seemed a touch harsh for
Shane Williams to nick the Player of the Tournament award. Such gongs so often
go to players merely for being on the winning teams, but Parisse's indomitable
strength, fitness, skill, discipline and commitment in what was often a
heart-breaking cause could easily have been rewarded with more than just a
runner-up spot there.</FONT></SPAN></H2></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>