Six Nations team preview — Italy: More doom and gloom for the tournament strugglers

Ahead of the 2016 Six Nations, Geoffrey Riddle evaluates Italy's chances, and they're not looking too good.

Italy have a long injury list and a plethora of uncapped players heading into the Six Nations. Jan Kruger / Getty Images

Italy must front up. Georgia’s strong showing at the Rugby World Cup only added fuel to the argument that the Six Nations should consider relegation of the bottom team.

Georgia have won the last five European Nations Cups, sometimes referred to as the Six Nations B, putting pressure on tournament organisers.

The Georgians beat Tonga and Namibia at the World Cup, in comparison to Italy’s wins over Canada and Romania.

Tournament director Bill Beaumont has ruled out promotion and relegation for the near future, but not entirely.

Italy certainly have had their moments in the championship that they joined in 2000, but they have finished last ten times and look booked for the foot of the table once again.

The Azzurri have a terrible injury list that includes World Cup playmaker Tommaso Allan, Leicester front-row Michele Rizzo and stalwart Quintin Geldenhuys.

Placed in that context, Jacques Brunel’s decision to name 10 uncapped players in his squad is eyebrow-raising, but it is refreshing that he has understood something needed to be done to try inject something new into his side.

PLAYER TO WATCH — SIMONE FAVARO

Favaro’s tireless work at the breakdown was rewarded with a transfer to Glasgow Warriors in the summer. He made his Six Nations debut for Italy against France in 2012 but has only just become a permanent fixture in the side after he missed virtually the whole of last season’s tournament through injury. He is not quite in Marco Bergamasco’s league at slowing ball down, but his role in that regard will be crucial to his side’s chance of remaining competitive.

STARS IN THE MAKING — ANDRIES VAN SCHALKWYK AND ABRAHAM STEYN

Among the raft of new faces in the Italian squad are two South African-born players in Andries van Schalkwyk and Abraham Steyn. Van Schalkwyk is longer in the tooth of the two at 30 years of age, having played first-class rugby for Boland Cavaliers, Blue Bulls, Kings, Leopards, Lions and Free State Cheetahs in South Africa. Steyn, on the other hand, is at the other end of his career, having played two games for the Sharks in 2012 before he moved to Italy where he now plays for Treviso. At 23, he would not have to be top-class to get in to Italy’s backrow.

POINT TO PROVE — KELLY HAIMONA

Haimona missed the World Cup due to a broken arm but has never really nailed down a place in the Italian line-up. The New Zealand-born flyhalf has been shunted out to the centre to make way for Carlo Canna, and is unlikely to be kicking at goal, either. Haimona will provide welcome relief for Canna both as first receiver and with tactical kicking, but under what is likely to be intense pressure, the Zebre player has it all to do to make his mark.

PREDICTION — 6TH

It is very hard to understand any scenario that results in Italy finishing anywhere other than last. At the World Cup they did not progress at all, and the only shred of hope that Italy have is that their injuries abate in time for the visit of Scotland to Rome in Round 3. Either that or it rains in each of their five matches forcing an arm wrestle up front. Italy beat Scotland at Murrayfield last season, but under Vern Cotter the Scots are playing with much more purpose than previously. That fixture remains their best chance of victory and the only opportunity at finishing off the bottom.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport