TELESPALLA I say it’s niche in ITALY. I know that in certain provincial realities it’s quite popular. Just like handball in some regions or fencing (I could go on). On a "national" level, if we look at the sums... well, it’s not really well known or received, let alone practiced. Come on. Italy vs South Africa received practically zero attention from the media. A damn thing on the news and 5 square centimeters on the front page of Gazza. That seems a little scant for a match against the world champions, and the colossal difference in treatment seems evident, further proving the questionable foundations on which they built the Milan event. This is really obvious, am I so wrong about this? I don’t think so. Regarding the "moral" values that rugby embodies, I believe I have expressed myself positively and I agree with you. I’ve said several times that for Italy, a true assimilation of the values of teamwork, organization, unity, etc. that rugby brings would represent a cultural evolution in a country that is crassly football-centric. It would be an improvement for society, no matter how "small" the push from a sport can be in that sense (not that small anyway). As you may have understood by now, while recognizing its intrinsic values, I find it a mediocre spectacle. And here it’s a matter of taste, and please allow me not to be overly enthusiastic when I talk about rugby. Not offensive tones (if I've offended anyone, I apologize) and opinions I've backed up, with a deliberately slightly provocative style (my style). I’m aware I'm not an expert in the matter (it seems that to discuss it, one must be scientists sometimes given the complexity and difficulty of understanding such precise and delicate team mechanisms... and this also supports my thesis: it’s hard for something so complex and not "individualistic" to become popular in Italy) but I’m not completely ignorant. I keep myself informed, I've watched a few matches, I know the fundamental rules, I know who the Barbarians are, what the wooden spoon is, the Six Nations (which was five, bless them), and the Tri Nations, and I also know the World Cup roll of honor. You get me!!! But these rules are pretty complicated, huh? It's not a spectacle that's instantly accessible; you must admit that.
Regarding the individual fundamentals, even as a novice, I don't think I've said anything outrageous. These aren’t statements made to belittle rugby; on the contrary, they highlight its purely "team" nature more than any other team sport. The fundamentals are simply easier. In short, it’s one thing to run or pass a ball in a rugby way and quite another to advance in speed while controlling it with your feet, dribbling or diving and juggling... I’m talking about basic individual technique. Then strength, tactical sharpness, tactical intelligence, overall coordination... well, I think there are few comparisons; in rugby, we reach the highest evolution of these aspects. Did I say another absurdity? I don’t think so this time either. Other team sports require more complex basic techniques and movements, which subsequently turn out to be more spectacular on average. Is that blasphemy?
I don’t think this game is very popular on a national level; you can tell also from the fact that only a few know the rules. Unlike other (I won’t repeat which) truly popular sports. For them, the rules are known even among non-participants, for example. I’m pretty convinced that in England, France, South Africa, NZL, Argentina, Australia, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland (the elite of those who really love this game as "nations", you see) we will always tickle their fancy. We’ll never win a Six Nations; we don’t exist at a truly competitive level, it’s pointless to deny it. A win against any of these teams is an exceptional event. We need foreign coaches (another demonstration of the Italian culture in this matter) and even players from abroad. And we’re matched with Samoa, a nation whose population is equal to one
