Italy A top the Nations Cup table

After the first round of the IRB's Nations Cup being played in Bucharest, Italy A top the table.
 
Last year, after the first Round Italy 'A' adorned the bottom of the table with one point. It was very much before the World Cup and so, with a few places up for grab, the players were under tremendous pressure to perform. Maybe that was the reason for their underachievement, as the squad for this year's tournament is of roughly similar strength.

As they used to say, it is all in the head, and the Italians showed style, skill and composure in dispatching an admittedly below-par Russian team, suffering in the scorching sun of the hot Bucharest afternoon. So, without the pressure to perform, the Italians kept their cool and played a sound, simple, and efficient game that brought them a bonus point against the abrasive Russia. This time they top the table with a bonus point.

An astute observer of the like of the Emerging South African coach Chester Williams was quick to point out that after the first day's performance, in his opinion Italy A were the favourites to win. That may be just a matter of speech, though Italy is now a mature rugby nation, and their A team, seasoned with Six Nations campaigners of the likes of Alberto Sgarbi, Michele Sepe and Silvio Orlando could genuinely win this tournament.

The other missing factor last year, was the presence of the diminutive coach Alessandro Ghinni, a former Test scrumhalf, who forms a very effective team with Marzio Zanato. Among the newcomers 22-year old flyhalf Paolo Buso reminds of Stefano Bettarello, the inspiring mastermind of the Italian midfield, praised by Carwyn James and admired by many.

The Emerging South Africans were taken aback by the abrasive Georgian challenge, but the young South Africans captained by their charismatic centre Morgan Newton should not be dismissed easily, and so the clash between the two nations in Round two, may provide a clue to who may take the coveted trophy back home.

Romania, must urgently improve, to be able to stay in contention, as the wounded Russians will try to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with, though they are at the bottom of the table.

Uruguay, surprised the Romanians and themselves with the quality of their challenge and credit must be given to the team, their coaches A Passadore and F Berutti and their technical advisor, IRB's South American Development Manager Hernán Ruoco-Oliva who did a sterling job in a short period of time.

Georgia, though, is the team that everybody talks about here in Bucharest, having shown the way with their never-say-die attitude, as much as their tackling and appetite for combat. They are the European Nations Cup Champions.

Table after Round 1

1. Italy A 5
2. Emerging South Africa 4
3. Romania 4
4. Uruguay 1
5. Georgia 1
6. Russia 0

By Chris Thau, IRB