State of the Nation: Italy’s ‘disappointing’ Six Nations is testament to Azzurri growth despite French ‘humiliation’
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Six Nations, here's our State of the Nation for Italy.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Six Nations, we update you on the state of the participating nations. Next up, it’s Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy.
Once the whipping boys of the Championship, the Azzurri have for just the third time in the history of the tournament avoided the Wooden Spoon in back-to-back campaigns (also 2003-2004 and 2012-2013).
Still, there is very much a feeling of what could have been for the Italians in 2025 as their points tally dropped to five after collecting 11 last year.
This points to a clear shift in expectations from fans and players alike as a golden generation of Italian rugby begins to mature into a serious team that just needs to find some consistency.
Six Nations summary
Consistency and discipline will be the working words for the Azzurri ahead of their daunting tour to South Africa in July. Quesada made an immediate impact in his first year in charge of the Italians last year but there was an air of second-season blues plainly evident in their opening game against Scotland.
They stuck to the game plan of keeping the scoreboard ticking when the opportunities arose and when Juan Ignacio Brex picked off Finn Russell’s pass and cantered away to level the scores against Scotland. With a whiff of going back-to-back against the Scots, the Azzurri failed to capitalise and two quick tries saw Gregor Townsend’s side race to a flattering 31-19 victory.
One game down and zero points on the league table, Italy needed a reply against Wales and Quesada’s men delivered, notching up their first and ultimately only win of the Championship bringing Warren Gatland’s tenure to an end.
Against France, the Azzurri were simply outplayed, outmuscled and outsmarted. It sounds ridiculous but they didn’t even play that poorly in the 73-24 lashing at the hands of the French.
That humbling clearly dented their confidence as the Azzurri did not pitch up physically or mentally at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham and were duly put to the sword.
Then on the final day, at home against the Irish, they conspired their own demise of epic proportions. First, it was the brainless actions of demoted skipper Michele Lamaro that resulted in a 10-minute breather before Ross Vintcent’s overeagerness meant he saw red and just to top it all off, with the Azzurri still within firing distance of a win, Giacomo Nicotera manufactured one final act of aimless stupidity to earn a red card and kill of any chance of a second win in the Championship.
Standout players
It comes as no surprise that Tommaso Menoncello was shortlisted for the Six Nations Player of the Championship, the award he won last year, after yet another outstanding tournament. He was sublime on both sides of the ball, hammering ball carriers backwards while grabbing two tries and thrilling in tandem with midfield partner Brex.
Brex’s pullback should be a national treasure at this point as it regularly opened up defences with Menoncello timing his runs to perfection. He would skipper Italy in their last match of the tournament but he actally led the side from start to finish through his unwavering performances.
Lorenzo Cannone produced one of the best performances of the tournament in his Man of the Match display against Wales. The number eight is relentless from minute one to 80 when he pulls on the Azzurri shirt and while he did surrender his starting role to Vintcent after the French defeat, he was still a standout.
In previous years, the Italian team has been crying out for players to give them real direction and tactical intent which Martin Page-Relo and Paolo Garbisi certainly did in this Championship. Previously, the Azzurri have looked to run it from all areas of the pitch but the halfbacks have given them tactical intelligence and direction.
Finally, Danilo Fischetti had a sterling Six Nations campaign as he melted opposition carriers while being just as strong on the other side of the ball and troubling opposing tightheads.
⭐ Six Nations: Forwards snubbed for Player of the Championship award with four-man shortlist unveiled
Stat leaders
Tommasso Allan was the second most accurate placekicker in the Championship with an 85% success rate racking up 45 points, a tally only bettered by France’s Thomas Ramos (71).
Unsurprisingly Ange Capuozzo was a handful for the opposing defences as he not only crossed for a joint-team high of two tries but also made more line breaks (4) for the Azzurri. Meanwhile, Menoncello beat the most defenders (20) – a tally ranking him fourth overall.
Seb Negri led the charge on defence with a team-high of 75 tackles and a joint-Championship high of 11 dominant tackles, with Menoncello (8) leading the way for backs in the Six Nations for the latter category as well as turnovers won (6).
Once again, Federico Ruzza was a safe source of lineout ball winning 37 in total – 11 more than any other player.
Success story
Perhaps it is not just this tournament but the last two as Italy have finally gone from a team that is on the up to one that can well and truly compete in the Six Nations. The France defeat was a real outliner in 2025 as the Azzurri were really in with a shot of winning each of their other four Championship matches. The team has matured and looks far more tactically sound and are clearly more confident because of it.
Going back-to-back over Wales for the first time in their history should not be understated. Yes, Welsh rugby is at an all-time low but the Italy of old would have lost that match in challenging conditions.
Main regret
The humiliation at the hands of France is easy to point but in the 25-year history of the Six Nations, Italy have beaten Ireland just once – a 22-15 victory in 2013. On that occasion, the Azzurri would finish higher than Ireland in the final standings which was not possible this time around in Rome but Italy had the IDEAL chance to double their win tally over the Irish and repeatedly found ways not to.
While beating Wales in 2022 was a statement of intent and growth, doing so again last year and pairing it with a win over the Scots hammered home that point but beating a title-chasing Ireland would have been a message to the entire rugby-playing world, Italy have arrived. Alas, it was not to be as Italy’s Championship ultimately ended in disappointment. And that in itself is a testament to just how far this team has already come that not finishing last is no longer a good enough achievement.
Results
Italy v Scotland (Scotland won 31-19)
Italy v Wales (Italy won 22-15)
Italy v France (France won 24-73)
Italy v England (England won 47-24)
Italy v Ireland (Ireland won 17-22)
READ MORE 👉 Loose Pass: Adam Jones’ ‘sheer dispair’, the ‘tooth-grinding racket’ and Six Nations Awards
