Arranged marriage now very unstable

ON RUGBY: So the Azzurri arrive this week on a long losing streak and riddled by infighting and intrigue, with both the Italian Federation and the squad divided over the standing of their New Zealand coach Brad Johnstone. Allowing for the Italians' emotional nature and capacity for comic opera, this all seems excessively melodramatic, even for them.

The Azzurri-Johnstone marriage always appeared more of the arranged variety than one made in heaven. Things appeared to be turning around in the autumn when the Azzurri beat Fiji by 66-10, whereupon they put up a game fight against South Africa in losing.

Alas, the toll of three successive games resulted in an anti-climactic, limp 17-9 defeat at home to the Samoan team which an under-strength Ireland had beaten 35-8 the week before.

They arrive in Dublin on Thursday on the back of a dozen Six Nations defeats in succession, winning only five of their last 24 outings all told, or seven of their last 37, and three of those were against Spain, Romania and Namibia.

It's such a shame that the bureaucratic wheels within the home unions and French federation were so slow in allowing an excellent but ageing Italian team belated entry into the Six Nations (and that Twickenham was reputedly the most dogmatic in opposing their entry).

Now the lack of playing depth has been exposed and Italy are clearly suffering from a dearth of test players. It is said that their 10-team first division provides scarcely 100 players of anything like representative quality and nothing like the intensity required to prepare them for the European Cup and Shield.

Over the years, Treviso have generally performed credibly, especially at home, but even this year their results continued a trend which is at best stagnant, but more realistically is worsening.

Johnstone, with some validity, also points to the lack of preparation time he has with his far-flung squad, making them more akin to an invitation side by comparison to their Six Nations rivals. Yet, bearing this in mind, he has given his critics plenty of ammunition with a selection policy which has seen 25 debutantes blooded at test level and 74 players used over his two and a half years in charge.

But, most of all, there is criticism of the rigidity of his tactics. Johnstone imposed some disciplined old-fashioned New Zealand virtues on the innate flair and sevens mentality of the Fijians, but for the Italians this All-Black style has been too much of a sea change after decades of predominantly French influences.

While it is generally acknowledged that Johnstone is a fine forwards' coach and a wonderful scrumagging coach especially, he does not seem to have recognised the need within an innately creative Italian mentality to play with a little flair.

The current Azzurri play functionally, are dogged defensively and effective spoilers, but they are devoid of flare. Until their old warrior Carlo Checchinato scored his 20th try in 73 tests against Wales 21 minutes into their third match of the championship, they hadn't hinted at a try.

In any case, Johnstone has singularly failed to instil more discipline into the Azzurri, whose accumulation of seven yellow cards in three games to date has actually accentuated an appalling record of 16 sinbinnings in 13 championship games. (It has to be said however, that referees and touch-judges seem to have preconceived ideas about the Italians and hence only have eyes for them at times)

Even before this Six Nations kicked off, the word on the grapevine was that the Italian players didn't want to play for Johnstone.

As the championship unfolded, gradually some leading players agitated for Johnstone's removal, to be replaced by his assistant John Kirwan.

It's widely believed that Diego Dominguez, though persuaded out of international retirement by Johnstone, was agitator in chief. It is less clear whether he was effectively acting in splendid isolation, or whether there is a sizeable chunk of the squad genuinely opposed to Johnstone, though the atmosphere in the Italian camp before the Welsh game was reported to be poisonous.

Dominguez, 36 next month, almost appears part of the problem now rather than the saviour, though it could be more a case of him becoming fed up with the instructions he's playing to. It was entirely fitting that the brilliant Argentinian-born number 10 should inspire Italy to their historic debut win over the Scots two seasons ago with six penalties, three drop goals and a conversion in that masterful 29-point haul, but more than ever this season he has sat in the pocket, kicked the leather off the ball in playing purely for position and three-pointers, while showing little inclination to launch his backs.

Though Johnstone and Kirwan are fellow All Blacks, they were never team-mates and Kirwan was imposed upon an unknowing Johnstone by Giancarolo Dondi, the Italian Federation (FIR) President. Dondi appointed Johnstone as well though, and remains loyal to the beleaguered coach, if only - according to some - because he doesn't like to admit he was wrong.

In any case, Johnstone only survived on a 10-7 confidence count from the FIR board prior to the start of the Six Nations, and his position was looking increasingly tenuous following defeats to France and Scotland.

Whereupon Dondi used the relatively improved performance in the 44-20 defeat to Wales to complete negotiations for an extended contract with Johnstone, which is reputed to be worth €220,000 per annum. So the thought of a handsome pay-off might temper the desire amongst those board members to remove Johnstone at the end of the championship.

For the time being, sadly, it's difficult to see where Italy are going. It would be marvellous to see them put up a big performance and pull off a big win somewhere along the line. Once it's not against Ireland, of course.

And with England to come in a fortnight they're peering down a dark tunnel. That would make it 14 wins and counting. So things are liable to get worse before they get better.