On closer inspection, the Six Nations Tournament evokes more and more Boys and Guillaume, to the table !, the film by Guillaume Gallienne released in 2013. Transposed to rugby, we find five guys who are determined to fight it out and jostle to lift the trophy; and a youngest of whom everyone, without daring to verbalize it too much, wonders basically what he is doing there.
The 2022 edition of the Tournament, the first day of which takes place on Saturday February 5 and Sunday February 6, “could be the most competitive and open in the history of the competition”, warns Kieran Crowley, new coach of the Italy team. But his Squadra Azzurra, which faces the XV of France on Sunday at the Stade de France (4 p.m.), should once again make do with leftovers. Systematically beaten since February 2015 in the competition – a record 32 defeats in a row – and showing little progress, the teammates of captain Michele Lamaro seem to be evolving in a parallel dimension of the Tournament, which the country joined in 2000.
The question of Italy’s place in the competition comes up regularly, but it is particularly visible in this year when all the other nations are showing up – more or less strongly – their ambition to win the event. “Apart from Italy, all teams can consider winning the Tournament”warns the French coach, Fabien Galthié. And to list recent performances: “The Irish are unbeaten since the defeat against us [en 2021], and have won all their matches in November, including the one against the All Blacks. The English are undefeated in November too, having beaten all the nations of the South. The Scots, the Welsh… So many teams capable of winning the Tournament. Today, rugby in the North is very competitive. »
Good level of the northern hemisphere
If the earth were oval like a rugby ball, it would be seen leaning towards the Northern Hemisphere right now, with performances from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia currently appearing below. “If you look at the results of the autumn tour, the best rugby in the world is now played in the northern hemisphere”observes New Zealander Kieran Crowley, who hopes that Italy, which he has largely renewed, will manage to show his progress.
“Obviously, we hear criticism of our team, and our place in the Tournamentrecognizes the Italian captain, Michele Lamaro. But we are a new team and we will try to bring our passion to this competition. » Because the poor results of the Transalpine whet the appetite of other regions of continental rugby, which would see themselves supplanting Italy as the “sixth nation”.
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