Jeff Probyn column: I see Italy becoming a real powerhouse of the North

Edoardo Gori 's feature on the future of Italian rugby last week got me thinking – and not just about the Azzurri and their future but also the possible implications for a nation demoted from the .
I must admit that I disagree with many of the views expressed about Jacques Brunel's reign as Italian head coach and despite this year's wooden spoon, I think he should be applauded for how far he has taken since taking charge.
Under previous coach Nick Mallett it would have been easy to believe that Italy had no backs and were capable of only playing a ten-man game. So limited was Mallett's ambition for the team he once selected flanker Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half despite having the wonderfully talented Edoardo Gori in the squad.
Brunel introduced a completely new style of game for the Italians and has started them on a path that I believe will ultimately see them as one of the powerhouses of Northern Hemisphere rugby.
Gallagher points out the small number of victories that Italy have enjoyed since joining the then Five Nations and compares how the Italians have improved with the Argentinians, who joined the Tri-nations just four years ago.
But Argentina had a pedigree of beating Tier One teams that dated back through the 70s, 80s and 90s. In fact they never lost a two-match Test series in Buenos Aires during that period and even drew with the and the in .
In comparison, Italy had achieved only one FIRA title win between 1952 and 1997.  I am not suggesting Italy didn't deserve their place in the elite of Northern Hemisphere rugby, merely pointing out a major difference between both countries.
By 1997, in the early days of professionalism, Italy had embraced the new game and brought in some outside talent while Argentina tried to continue as amateurs knowing they could not afford to keep their best players. As a result, Italy's fortunes improved while Argentina suffered a dip in form.
When Italy were eventually allowed to join the Five Nations, it was just when that group of players were coming to the end and Italy were beginning to rebuild.
Just like the promoted teams that reach the , Italy were given less of the money generated by the competition than their rivals and were expected not only to survive but catch up to the nations that had been playing at a higher standard for close to 100 years.
Add to that, the Italians officially have only two professional teams and can no longer rely on an advantageous tax system that allowed clubs to ‘sponsor' players, so are unable to compete with the Top 14 and PRL for the world's best players.
Gallagher suggested that the Italians use foreign leagues to improve their players, encouraging them to play in either the Top 14 or Premiership.
A consequence of having too many foreign players in the Top 14 is all too apparent in the decline of the French national team, which can be correlated to the increase in foreign players that have sought to end their playing days with a golden handshake from the rich owners of the Top 14 clubs.
The Premiership is currently in talks with the which will include an agreement on the number of English Qualified Players in match day squads in order to restrict the numbers of ‘foreign' players that are competing in the Premiership.
I would hazard a guess that as soon as the French Federation get enough money from their new stadium, they will be attempting to put a similar deal in place with the Top 14.
This is a problem that will befall the likes of Georgia and Romania if a two-tier  Northern Hemisphere international league with promotion and relegation were formed. It is also likely that neither Georgia or Romania would bring much to the table in terms of potential revenue as neither have vibrant economies on the scale of  Italy, added to which the extra distance is liable to dissuade many travelling supporters.
Another problem is, what would happen to relegated countries suddenly stripped of the revenue that fund their professional game?
If, for instance, Scotland were relegated to the FIRA competition and lost their share of Six Nations revenues, including the television monies and their Tier One status  – which could lead to them losing fixtures against the other Tier One nations  – the financial impact would be ruinous.
It is likely that if that situation was ever to occur, rugby in Scotland would never recover and that is probably true for a majority of the current elite who are all close to the financial precipice as a result of trying to finance the pro game.
Despite the handicaps they have faced, Italy have managed to raise their performance and record some stunning victories.  With over 1,000 clubs and 80,000 registered players, Italian rugby just needs a spark to ignite the passion for the game. Despite this year's result, Brunel's playing style, coupled with new coach Conor O'Shea's pragmatism, may just provide it.
The sad news of the death of Norm Hadley at the ridiculously young age of 51 is hard for me to take in.  I played with the 6ft 7ins Canadian lock in matches and, while chairman of playing at Wasps, I persuaded him to join the club. More than that, he was a friend that my family and I will miss. RIP big man wherever you are.

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