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By Jeremy Inson
Italy finished fifth with five points. It is the second season in a row that the Azzurri ended fifth, though their points tally dropped from the 11 they secured in 2024.
Topping their 2024 performance, a best Six Nations ever of two victories and a draw, was always going to be a hard task for Gonzalo Quesada’s side.
Italy beat an abject Wales again, but Scotland at home in Round 1 was a far more grounded team than the side who were heading for a fall when they me Italy hardly landed a shot in the first half.
A year ago, they faced a France still in their post-World Cup pall and won their first point away to Les Bleus with a draw in Lille. This year they were unfortunate that the schedule pitted them against a France side licking their wounds after defeat at Twickenham, but they way they conceded 11 tries will be a concern, as will the seven let through against England.
Top of the list for Quesada is getting his captain Michele Lamaro back to his best. His yellow card against Ireland for illegally slapping the ball out of Jamison Gibson-Park’s hand summed up a frustrating and relatively anonymous tournament for a young player who had led so well till then.
Next up is working out how to bring star man Ange Capuozzo into the game more. For now, it appears that Quesada wants him on the wing with Tommaso Allan as a second playmaker and first-choice kicked.
Wherever he plays they need to find more ways to get him on the ball and making defences sweat because they are a much better team when they do.
The Argentina will also be concerned about how they switched off just after half-time against England and Ireland and let those matches disappear over the horizon before rallying later on.
With players like Paolo Garbisi and Tommaso Menoncello in the side, they will always threaten teams, but for now they need to get back on the training pitch to iron out their kinks.