The FIR took everyone by surprise when it announced that Fabio Roselli would be replacing Giovanni Raineri as head coach from 1 January.
Amongst other achievements Raineri had seen his side defeat Ireland away for the first time and ensure qualification for the 2025 World Cup. But two successive fifth positions in the Six Nations must have proved a stronger argument.
Roselli’s first move is to announce a squad of 34 to take part in training sessions between 3-6 January,
They divide into two groups:
Ilaria Arrighetti Stade Rennais, 62 caps), Beatrice Capomaggi (Villorba, 19 caps), Sofia Catellani (Colorno, 3 caps), Alyssa D’Inca (Villorba, 26 caps), Giordana Duca (Valsugana, 52 caps), Valeria Fedrighi (Colorno, 58 caps), Giada Franco (Colorno, 32 caps), Alessandra Frangipani (Villorba, 11 caps), Elisa Giordano (Valsugana, 69 caps), Francesca Granzotto (Unione Rugby Capitolina, 16 caps), Laura Gurioli (Villorba, 13 caps), Veronica Madia (Colorno, 52 caps), Sara Mannini (Colorno, 4 caps), Gaia Maris (ASM Romagnat, 32 caps), Aura Muzzo (Villorba, 49 caps), Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana, 37 caps), Alissa Ranuccini (Colorno, 10 caps), Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat, 28 caps), Michela Sillari (Valsugana 87 caps), Emanuela Stecca (Villorba 13 caps),
Emma Stevanin (Valsugana, 19 caps), Sara Tounesi (Montpellier, 43 caps), Vittoria Vecchini (Valsugana, 31caps), Beatrice Veronese Valsugana, 22 caps) (24)
Then a group of 10, consisting largely of uncapped players:
Natascia Aggio (Valsugana), Martina Busana (Villorba), Gaia Buso (Colorno, 2 caps), Alia Bitonci (Valsugana), Chiara Cheli (Colorno), Angelica Cittadini (Benetton), Greta Copat (Villorba), Elena Errichiello (Unione Rugby Capitolina, 1 cap), Alice Fortuna (Valsugana),Nicole Mastrangelo (Unione Rugby Capitolina, 1 cap)
The number of caps alone tells us that Roselli is following in Raineri’s footsteps; that lead squad is above all experienced. He has to do without the four players engaged in the PWR (Sofia Stefan, Beatrice Rigoni, Silvia Turani and Sara Seye) – another sign of the cramped calendar leading to the World Cup.
Where he has been able to make his own mark is in the second group, the younger generation. For the long-term wellbeing of the Azzurre, much depends on the quality they can bring. At their best the national side can look formidable, but they remain distressingly inconsistent.
In the last two seasons they have blown hot and cold, the cold coming too often for the FIR’s liking. Above all the pack needs to hold its own right through the 80 minutes.
It may prove significant that Roselli has chosen Rome as his first base. The FIR made a policy decision to host all their home internationals in Parma, not least to establish a regular following. But choosing one regional centre over many others – and not the capital – hasn’t proved a clear success.
It took the FIR many years to book the Olympic Stadium in Rome for their home men’s 6N matches. That is now the norm. Soomer or later, I feel, they must make the same move for the women.
The schedule facing Roselli could hardly be more challenging: first stop York in the Six Nations. At least the authorities won’t hold it against him if the Azzurre fail to beat England for the first time ever. The problems come with the remaining fixtures: somehow he has to improve on those two fifth places that probably caused Raineri’s demise.
After the England game Ireland visit Parma, and their tails are up. Italy’s best chance comes in Round 5 at home to Wales, but who knows how far the Welsh may have recovered? It’s perfectly possible that the Azzurre may struggle to gain more than a single victory – exactly the same as in the two previous years. How will the FIR react to that?
