NICK CAIN

It is a travesty that Italy were fighting to avoid retaining the Wooden Spoon against Wales, because this Azzurri side has galvanised the 2023 Six Nations.
Their all-out attacking style under coach Kieran Crowley meant that they forced France and Ireland to hit the accelerator hard to escape from Rome with wins, building on their first tournament victory for seven years over Wales in Cardiff a year ago.
In recent weeks we have heard all manner of reasons why they have improved, including the spadework put in by former Italy coaches like Franco Smith and Conor O’Shea.
Fine, but le...