ITALY: ITALIAN SIDE ARE TO MAKE THEIR DEBUT IN THE SIX NATIONS RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONSHIP

Record ID: 343051

  • Title: ITALY: ITALIAN SIDE ARE TO MAKE THEIR DEBUT IN THE SIX NATIONS RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Date: 5th February 2000
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (FEBRUARY 4, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. VIEW OF COLOSSEUM WITH SOUND OF BAGPIPES PLAYING 2. VARIOUS SCOTTISH RUGBY FANS AT COLOSSEUM PLAYING BAGPIPES 3. SCOTTISH TEAM TRAINING 4. SCOTTISH CAPTAIN JOHN LESLIE (WITH BLUE HAT) 5. SCOTTISH COACH IAN MCGEECHAN TALKING TO TEAM 6. VARIOUS TEAM TRAINING 7. NEWS CO
  • Embargoed: 20th February 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVAA01LILTEX2UKXQTR6BQANTF0U
  • Story Text: An Italian dream harboured for a decade will finally
    become reality on Saturday when Italy make their debut in the
    Six Nations Rugby Union championship.

    The wail of bagpipes reverberated around the Colosseum
    on Friday (February 4) as Scottish fans arrived
    in Rome to watch what they hope will be a victory for the
    Scottish team in the Six Nations rugby match against Italy.

    The Azzurri take on Scotland, the last winners of the old
    Five Nations tournament, at Rome's Flaminio Stadium.

    While few are predicting a home win, the very fact the
    match is taking place has been hailed as an historic victory
    for Italian rugby, locked in a constant battle with soccer
    for funds, sponsorship and prestige.

    Scotland will be captained by New Zealand-born John
    Leslie, who has been passed fit despite playing little rugby since
    injurying his ankle in Scotland's World Cup match against South
    Africa last October.

    'The Six Nations, because it's only five games builds
    momentum from winning and that's why it's key' said Scottish
    coach
    Ian Mcgeechan during the teams news conference in Rome on
    Friday.

    'I honestly believe, as well, that the teams are much
    closer
    together again in how they're performing which again is an
    added
    incentive because it is harder to predict' Mcgeechan said.

    The Scotland team, which includes three New Zealanders,
    shows three changes in the backs and two in the forwards from
    the team which started their World Cup quarter-final against
    the
    All Blacks last October.

    With centre Alan Tait and scrumhalf Gary Armstrong
    retired,
    Jamie Mayer gets a run in the centre and Bryan Redpath takes
    over the number nine shirt.

    New Zealand-born Shaun Longstaff comes in for the injured
    Cameron Murray on the wing.The back row remains the same with
    Leslie's brother Martin expected to play a key role.

    The Italians may well need divine intervention to keep the
    scoreline respectable against the Scots.Their coach has tried
    to make them forget the past and believe that they can
    succeed.

    Last year was the national side's "Annus Horribilis".

    Italy
    suffered heavy defeats in Britain, a humiliating tour of South
    Africa, a rebellion by eight top players, the sudden death of
    31-year-old centre Ivan Francescato and two changes of coach.

    They were predictably hammered at the World Cup in October,
    conceding 196 points in three group matches including a
    century
    of points against New Zealand.They were edged out by Tonga in
    the one match they stood a chance of winning.

    The job of lifting Italian spirits for the Six Nations has
    fallen to tough talking former All Black captain Brad
    Johnstone,
    appointed in the wake of the World Cup debacle.

    Johnstone has tried to tackle the most blatant source of
    Italy's problems, their inability to win the ball.

    "I believe strongly that every rugby team must believe in
    their abilities to be able to win.It's impossible to take the
    field thinking you haven't a chance to win the game," Italy's
    coach said during a news conference on Friday.

    " I also believe the ability is in the national team to
    win
    two games but for that to happen we have to play a hundred
    percent of our ability," Johnston concluded.


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