Kieran Crowley
A SIGN WENT up on the walls of the Italy changing room for the Autumn Nations Series. Create a team identity it read, reflecting the message that new coach Kieran Crowley has been keen to hammer home.
The New Zealander, who took over from Franco Smith last summer, is desperate for the Azzurri to realise who and what they are. With previous incarnations of this team, these have been straightforward questions to answer: lots of large men looking to do equally big things in the tight exchanges. A side that knew its strengths and played to them, unapologetically and consistently.
In recent years, however, that sense of certainty, that sense of self, has been largely missing. Under Smith, Italy often spoke of trying to broaden their attacking horizons and ended up increasing their margin for error. It looked unconvincing and it was wholly unsuccessful. In striving to break new ground,
