Italy captain Michele Lamaro has voiced his disappointment at what he perceives as a lack of respect shown by Wales during their recent clash in Cardiff.
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Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Lamaro didn’t mince his words, stating, “There were several small, unpleasant situations unworthy of a host country.”
Lamaro recounted the build-up to the match, stating, “During the week they bombarded us with ‘they are good, but make no mistake about it: in Cardiff we will not move’.”
He expressed frustration at the treatment they received during the warm-up, noting, “Then during the warm-up we were told that we would have to return to the locker room 15 minutes before the anthems, well ahead of schedule. We obeyed. Only to see the Welsh on the field at least five minutes longer than us.”
The Italy captain also highlighted the plight of their families in attendance, claiming, “Tickets were reserved for our companions in the corner: Martina, my fiancée, ended up at pitch height and saw little or nothing.”
He further criticised the denial of access to the post-match festivities, remarking, “No one, contrary to what usually happens, was allowed into the third half.”
Lamaro’s candid remarks shed light on the strained relations between the two teams following their encounter, with his comments reflecting a sense of frustration and disillusionment among the Italian contingent.
Ben Youngs’ Six Nations Team of The Tournament:
You can listen to the full latest episode of the podcast by CLICKING HERE.
1. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
3. Dan Cole (England)
4. George Martin (England)
5. Joe McCarthy (Ireland)
6. Michele Lamaro (Italy)
7. Tommy Reffell (Wales)
8. Ben Earl (England)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
10. George Ford (England)
11. James Lowe (Ireland)
12. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
13. Juan Ignacio Brex (Italy)
14. Damien Penaud (France)
15. Monty Ioane (Italy)
“A liability” – Telegraph rank England’s five worst 2024 Six Nations players
Telegraph Sport conducted a thorough assessment of each England player’s performance during the Six Nations, with criticism aimed at several individuals.
One player was labeled a liability, while another is advised to come to terms with the idea that their peak playing days may be behind them.
5 players who underperformed:
#5. Alex Coles – 6/10
Coles is a member of the Premiership outfit Northampton Saints, a club he has been associated with since the age of 13. His journey with the Saints began when he joined their senior academy in the summer of 2017, eventually making his senior debut in November of the following year.
With versatility spanning across the second and back rows, Coles has represented his country from U16 level all the way through to U20, featuring prominently in the U20 Six Nations and the World Rugby U20 Championship.
His impressive performances earned him a call-up to the England senior Men’s squad ahead of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, where he marked his debut in their narrow 30-29 defeat against Argentina.
They wrote: “A cumulative 15 minutes of action, but it is telling that England opted for no lock replacement in their final two matches.”
RUCK RATING: 6.25/10