Six Nations 2002 - Italy

You might as well tell Italy to keep the wooden spoon now since - barring a completely disastrous season by Wales or Scotland - it is a foregone conclusion that they will finish bottom of the table again.

But that is not the point. France didn?t win a championship match for 12 years after they were invited into the fold. At least Italy can boast a victory, even if embarrassing the Scots in their inaugural match in 2000 is now a distant memory. Interestingly, Ian McGeechan?s men visit Rome in the second round of matches on February 16. Diego Dominguez kicked Italy to that famous win over the Scots and they will be relying on the veteran fly half again after coach Brad Johnstone persuaded him he?s 21 again.

And there's the rub - Italy are in for the long haul as far as building a national team is concerned and can still only call upon a handful of world-class players including Dominguez, flanker Mauro Bergamasco, prop Andrea Lo Cicero and skipper Alessandro Moscardi. But there have been dramatic changes in Italian rugby in the last six months which should enable them to become more of a force in the next few seasons.

They have streamlined the domestic championship into a Super 10 to provide harder competition every week and, just like the Welsh, Scots and French, have opened up the national team to ?foreigners?. Any Italian passport holder, who has not played for another country such as South African-born fly half Gert Peens and Kiwi No 8 Malcolm Phillips, are now close to selection. It is a move to give Italy more breathing space while they develop home-grown players.

In the meantime, admire the dedication and hard work of Italy?s rugby fraternity as they fight for the spotlight with Juventus and Ferrari at home and parity with the established rugby powers abroad.