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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bella scoperta dell'acqua calda di Planet rugby
(per carita' rimane sempre fonte autorevole e competente) ma l'analisi mi sembra
elementare: avessimo avuto un'apertura di buon livello saremmo qui a parlare di
un un altro Sei Nazioni... e non credo di esagerare. Anzi ai competenti una
domanda: se l'Italia fosse capace di gestire meglio il territorio, con
un'apertura che con un calcio fa 50 metri e costringe l'avversario a giocare
sotto pressione, cosa accadrebbe? Di soltito quando giochiamo 'dall'altra parte'
qualcosa di buono esce. </FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=gaetano.palmiotto@fastwebnet.it
href="mailto:gaetano.palmiotto@fastwebnet.it">Gaetano Palmiotto</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=rugbylist@rugbylist.it
href="mailto:rugbylist@rugbylist.it">rugbylisyt</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, March 21, 2008 12:47
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [RUGBYLIST] Review Italia di
Planet Rugby</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>
<H2 class=storybox>
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<DIV id=ad1><A
href="http://www.skybet.com/skybet?action=GoEvClass&id=31&aff=754&PR_PromoAd"
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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></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>