The opinions on the Italian side

I follow Russian, Georgian, Japan, Canada, Romanian, Uruguayan ....even Portugal and Belgium rugby and I can say the distance a few years ago was vast, it is closing now.

Nick Mallet did a splendid job with Italy...Brunel took over and has capitalised well with Italy. I expect Italy is to become the phenomena in rugby.

I don't follow italian Rugby, and I don't know much about it, but if you are suggesting Italy are going to be the new phenomena in Rugby then can you at least point out why. Maybe tell us of some young players who look good? Or tell us who they have in their domestic league who look good? Or maybe they have done something we don't know about that you do.

Wehe, the dull-witted imbecile who clearly knows absolutely nothing about history is banging on about . . . wait for it . . . history again!

Stick that chillle bite up your arse ...you imbeclie and trogan mole and lets discuss rugby with respect...arsehole!

"you imbeclie and trogan mole"

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahhaha!

I wonder if this dullard even realizes what a blithering idiot he sounds like! LMAO!

SubstantialBull, you still haven't answered my very simple question . . . do you know what the score was the last time Italy played the Springboks in Durban?

If it'll make it any easier, just grunt once if "yes", or twice if "no". Okay?

Canrugby the present sad thing about the game of rugby is that it's abused as a sign of domininance over other nations.

The irony is that the biggest nations in the world are not the biggest competitors.

SA, NZ, Oz are minnows in the world...only achievement and accolades are rugby....we cling to these things as we have very little else...blatanlly and excuse my French...fuck all else.

Rugby has like soccer been professioned....so money will dominate whether we like it or not. It is not sport tyhat is at fault but this ugliness and lustfulness that we all have for the worship of money (mamon) lust and pleasure.

I was never a candidate in rugby because (for Saffex) I was small and on top of that my legs were too short.

My late great friend Keith Oxlee was perhaps the greatest fly half SA ever had....what a great and lovely person he was... in his old age was a great bowls player...a very modest man rthat would have spun millions of dollars in the modern game...yet lived a very modest life amongst his simple friends in Glenashley in Durban.

Keith was probably the greatest flyhalf ever in SA...if you doubt me please ask John Gainsford or Dawie De Villiers or Frik Du Preez who are still alive today.

I don't doubt that Keith Oxlee was a great player.

But you really didn't answer my question. Why do you think Italy will be the new "phenomena" in Rugby?

I get that money is eventually going to be the end of all this SA players must play for SA clubs, and Kiwi players must play for Kiwi clubs. But when it comes to playing for your country those players will still play for their countries. So why will Italy be so good? Who are their players that stand out? I'm not just talking about their league, or the two teams in the pro 12. I'm talking about Italian players. Who are they, and why will Italy be the "phenomena" you think?