News in brief from around the Six Nations

Mauro backed

“One day things are better and another they criticise you but there was a lot of criticism aimed at Mauro (Bergamasco, above) and it was not his fault. He was given a challenge, as were many other players, but things didn’t go as well as they normally do. But that’s not his fault, there were 15 players on the field and it wasn’t the case that 14 played well and one didn’t; everyone played badly. We need to help him and I think on Sunday he’ll be the first to get stuck in on the pitch.”

– Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni backs his much colleague Mauro Bergamasco.

Stadio Flaminio is smallest venue in Six Nations

THE VENUE for tomorrow’s Six Nations Championship match between Italy and Ireland, the Stadio Flaminio, has been the perennial home of the Italian national side since they entered the tournament despite the fact every year its suitability is questioned.

The beautifully-appointed amphitheatre lies along the Via Flaminia, three kilometres northwest of the city centre. It is the smallest stadium in the Six Nations championship with a capacity of 30,000 (8,000 covered) and this is one of the reasons there have been constant murmurings that Italy should move elsewhere.

The stadium is not without a certain charm though and aside from the pitch – it is also the home of AS Cisco Roma who play in Serie C – the interior spaces include a covered swimming pool, rooms for fencing, amateur wrestling, weightlifting, boxing and gymnastics.

Stadio Flaminio was built in 1927 on the site of an older stadium constructed in 1911 for the 50th anniversary of the Unification of Italy. The current incarnation of the stadium was constructed in July 1957 and served as the venue for the football finals in the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Foreign coaches have more experience of the Italian job

Five Italians – that includes a joint coaching axis – have presided over the Italy team since 1978, a timeframe that has also seen them guided by four French coaches, two New Zealanders and the current man in charge, South Africa’s Nick Mallett (right).

Pierre Villepreux (1978-1981)

Paolo Paladini–Marco Pulli (1981-1985)

Marco Bollesan (1985-1988)

Loreto Cucchiarelli(1988-1989)

Betrand Fourcade(1989-1993)

George Coste(1993-1999)

Massimo Mascioletti (1999-2000)

Brad Johnstone (2000-2002)

John Kirwan (2002-2005)

Pierre Berbizier (2005-2007)

Nick Mallett (2007-)

O'Connor clan to the fore

THIS COLUMN is grateful for an e-mail received from Joseph O’Connor, a grand nephew of John and Joe O’Connor, brothers who played rugby for Ireland. In describing an Irish victory over France in 1909, the first game between the countries, we made reference to a try scored by Garryowen scrumhalf John O’Connor. Joseph O’Connor confirmed it was Joe and not John who won his one and only cap that day and scored the try.

He wrote: “It was Joe who played that day, not John. The brothers Jack and Joe O’Connor played for Ireland in 1895 and 1909. John (or Jack) had played for Ireland in 1895 against Scotland. It was actually Joe who played and scored in his maiden game for Ireland against France in 1909.” He provided text from Joe O’Connor’s death notice which read: “This (against France ’09) was poor ‘Joe’s’ last match; shortly after a chest infection set in, to which he eventually succumbed after an illness of about a year and a half.” He went on to add between 1890 and 1914 there was at least one O’Connor on every Garryowen cup winning team. “Indeed in 1902 four brothers, Thade, Jack, Bryan and Joe, won cup medals. Between them the brothers won a total of 37 Munster Challenge Cup medals.”

A remarkable family.

Wheel turns full circle for Clarke

IRELAND and Italy met for the first time in any national representative rugby match at under-21 level. It was the first time Ireland actually played a match at that age grade and it took place at Lansdowne Road in 1988. The Irish won 22-13 and four of the team went on to win senior caps, Nicky Barry, Allen Clarke, Paddy Johns and Paul Hogan.

The wheel has certainly come full circle for Clarke as he coaches the current incarnation of the underage side he played for, the Ireland under-20 team in Italy this weekend.