Coach Crowley’s Last Game in Charge as Italy Suffers Heaviest Defeat to France
In a Rugby World Cup encounter that was expected to be a chance for Italy to redeem themselves after a disastrous 96-17 defeat by New Zealand, the team instead endured their worst-ever loss to France, being soundly thrashed 60-7 on Friday.
Italy’s only points of the game came past the 70-minute mark, while the hosts ran in eight tries during the final Pool A fixture. Coach Kieran Crowley, presiding over his last game in charge of Italy, had no choice but to acknowledge the superior performance and class displayed by the French side.
“You just need to listen to the support they’ve got. They were too good,” Crowley admitted.
The Italian coach lamented his team’s early penalties and ineffective breakdown work, which prevented them from building any momentum. He also noted the physicality and power of the French side, which proved too much for Italy to handle.
“These boys, they’d die for you. They’ve got a lot of pride,” Crowley praised his players. He expressed hope that the team would receive more respect in the future and highlighted the potential of players who will accumulate 50 or 60 test matches in the next World Cup cycle.
Italy’s captain, Michele Lamaro, who was replaced just four minutes into the second half, struggled to find words to describe the disappointment of winning their opening two games against Namibia and Uruguay but failing to capitalize on that start.
“We managed to put ourselves into the position we wanted to be in, but unfortunately, a word to describe it, I can’t think of anything right now,” Lamaro expressed.
He refuted the idea that there had been too much expectation and pressure on the team, emphasizing their focus on their performance rather than external factors.
However, the undeniable truth is that this Italian side fell short of expectations, unable to perform their basic game effectively.
“The reason is quite simple. In rugby when you’re struggling to play your basic game that’s what happens,” Lamaro acknowledged.
Italy’s captain admitted that France’s forwards were immensely powerful, requiring an extra man or two to counter their attacks. He described the challenges they faced in stopping the opposing forwards and the subsequent openings for France in wide spaces.
Italy finishes the World Cup in third place in Pool A with 10 points, securing their qualification for the next World Cup. However, the heavy defeats suffered at the hands of France and New Zealand leave little cause for celebration.
Coach Crowley’s Tenure Ends with a Disappointing Defeat
