The performance of centre Walter Pozzebon was the main talking point for Italian rugby fans after Saturday's 66-10 thrashing of Fiji at Treviso in the first of three November Test matches for the
"Azzurri".
Although prolific flyhalf Diego Dominguez (pictured) posted 29 points with his trusty boot the most noticeable improvement for Italy came in the back division with centre Pozzebon the star man as seven tries were posted to Fiji's one - a 60-metre solo run from Waisale Serevi who intercepted a rare stray pass from Dominguez.
At 22 Pozzebon, who plays his club rugby for Benetton Treviso, was first spotted by Italy coach Brad Johnstone in the 2000 World University Cup staged in Italy but is now coming on with leaps and bounds under Johnstone's assistant and fellow former All Black John Kirwan, who has special responsibility for the back division.
Kirwan, married to an Italian and with three bilingual children, was a childhood hero for Pozzebon who still has a photo of himself with the former New Zealand wing when he was 10 years old.
"For me he (Kirwan) is a myth," Pozzebon told Corriere dello Sport. "He seemed a legend to me as a child but now he is my coach. Mind you, with Dominguez and (Christian) Stoica in the back division I only need to make sure I don't do anything stupid."
Kirwan's influence on the backs was there for all to see against Fiji while Johnstone, a former New Zealand prop, continues to work on the pack that made great advances last season in what was an otherwise unmemorable campaign for the "Azzurri". Kirwan has also proved a useful foil to Johnstone off the field in that - unlike the latter - he speaks fluent Italian.
Johnstone's unashamedly Anglo-Saxon management style - press interviews are conducted in English peppered with the odd word like 'piano' or 'forza' thrown in - ruffled a few feathers last season in the Italian rugby world and he survived an attempt to unseat him largely because of the staunch support of Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) president Giancarlo Dondi and senior players like Dominguez.
Kirwan's diplomatic and linguistic skills have proved useful. "I speak Veneto too," says Kirwan in reference to the local dialect in northern Italy where his wife hails from and where he spent four years with Treviso.
Next up for Italy is Saturday's Test match in Genoa against South Africa who are at something of a low ebb after the 20-10 defeat by France in Paris.
There was more turbulence for the Springbok players on their way to Genoa. On arrival Sunday evening in the northern Italian town officials with the South Africans admitted that a stormy flight from France had given them more than a few jitters.
Italy fullback Paolo Vaccari will miss the match against South Africa with a fractured cheekbone but back row forward Carlo Caione, also a casualty against Fiji, should be fit despite needing 18 stitches in a scalp wound.
After the Springboks Italy will play Samoa at L'Aquila on November 24 although at the weekend Italy confirmed they had not had confirmation that the visitors would arrive. - Sapa-AFP