Italian back-rower Sebastian Negri is enjoying the opportunity to shake off the wounds he sustained at the Rugby World Cup and “do well” against opponents such as England in their first match.
The Azzurri will be under new head coach Gonzalo Quesada in 2024, replacing Kieran Crowley after a disappointing showing at the world championships.
With heavy losses to New Zealand and France at the Rugby World Cup, Italy’s momentum going into the tournament disappeared.
Promising years
In fact, confidence was high after defeating Wales and Australia in 2022 until near-misses in the 2023 Six Nations against powerhouses France and Scotland.
“The World Cup hurt, it really hurt. It was a setback, but the good thing was that we had the opportunity to play against the best team in the world,” Negri said.
Italy ended a 36-game losing streak in the Six Nations with victory over Wales in 2022, but it was their last win in the competition, with Negri admitting the result was not good enough.
“It’s a tough tournament for us, but what keeps us going is the belief that we can get the results we want,” he added.
“It’s difficult. If you judge by the results, at the end of the day they are the results. We got some results in the Six Nations and we have a responsibility to continue to build on what we’ve built over the last 12 to 18 months. there is.
“Despite some setbacks at the World Cup, we have come a long way in terms of our game and we hope to have a good, balanced Six Nations.
“We want to continue to develop because we are aiming for something special. We have a very good group of young players who are gaining more and more experience.
“If I didn’t believe in the process we’re going through, I wouldn’t be playing international rugby.”
Opening this year’s Six Nations with a home win against England would be seen as a shock result, but a dangerous Italy cannot be written off at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
Requires a balanced approach
Negri, whose Benetton team has enjoyed impressive performances in the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup this season, is aware of the task ahead of him as he strives for victory.
“England are a very physical team, with a very good set-piece and kicking game. We need to adapt to that and make sure we don’t start throwing the ball around from a boiling point,” said a wide player. said.
“You need a balanced approach and you’ll have problems if you underestimate them. They showed what they can do at the World Cup. They may not be the prettiest brand in rugby but , we are getting results and that is what matters.”
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