Italian coach Jacques Brunel presents team building plan for forthcoming Six Nations championship
Jacques Brunel, the head coach of Italy's rugby team, has unveiled his progressive program to build up his side for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship, starting next year. Italy has been participating in international tournaments for quite some years
but they still have to assert their position among the established sides of the world. Recently they took part in Rugby World Cup 2011 but were ruled out from the event from the early stages after failing to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Italy was placed in Pool C, in the just concluded world showpiece held in New Zealand, along with Ireland, Australia, United States and Russia. They cut a sorry figure by winning just two matches in the event as per their long history. Italy has never crossed
the first barrier of group matches in the 24 year history of Webb Ellis Trophy.
Their best ever performances have been seen during last three global shows where they have won two each matches in every event. Meanwhile, their performance in the Six Nations championships is also very bad. They have participated in 12 such tournaments
and ended up their campaigns every time at the bottom of tables except two.
Italy repeated their woeful track record in the last event of Six Nations 2011 as well and managed to win just one encounter out of their five outgoings.
While revealing his planes to build the side for the up coming tournament the coach said that, “The team has potential, they've been progressing for several years and I hope to develop this progress even more. In the next two to three years we need to arrive
in a position in which we are able to win the Six Nations and at the end of the four-year cycle to be in the first six in the world.”
He further stated that, “That will require a lot of work, we have to keep our strengths and find a better balance with these strengths, but I believe strongly in this team. The national team needs to carry the flame for the whole of Italian rugby.”
Italy will take on France in the opening match of Six Nations 2012, on February 4, in Stade de France.
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