CHRIS HEWETT
THINKING ALLOWED

ONE of these fine days, with the grace of God and a following wind, a World Cup will be played in the land of the Caesars. Should that wind blow in the wrong direction at the wrong velocity at the wrong moment, would Italy be chucked out of their own tournament while they’re still in it? There’s a question. Remember Japan 2019? The Azzurri sure as hell do.
With the sport’s top brass still under the impression that Trussonomics made sense and continuing to chase growth in the way Richie McCaw once chased opposing outside-halves, they would at least insist ...