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Toulouse had two Italians on the pitch in La Rochelle. One, Menoncello, scored on debut. The other, Ange Capuozzo, was nowhere to be seen. Anonymous — and I say it with affection, because I know what he’s worth.
Why didn’t Capuozzo show up?
Because Capuozzo is a player who has to be set in motion: he needs space and the right timing to run, and on Sunday Toulouse had neither. He found himself in a couple of loose-ball situations and tried to get involved, but a team that chaotic doesn’t produce the kind of ball he needs.
Add the fitness factor: it’s round one, and he too needs time to get to one hundred per cent.
The scare (that wasn’t him)
At the end of the first half we had a fright: I thought he’d hurt a hand. It wasn’t him, it was Gourgues. But the reflex says it all: whenever we watch Capuozzo we watch him on the edge of our seats, afraid something will happen to him.
A particularly fragile player, but incredible for Italy.
A player with rugby intelligence like few others and the X factor we all know. For an Italy heading towards the World Cup, he’s a piece we can’t afford to lose.
The other Italians this weekend
It’s not only Toulouse. On Saturday Paolo Garbisi played very well for Perpignan, beaten 28-26 in Paris by Stade Français. From this week we’ll follow all the Italians in the Top 14 more closely: it’s the best way to build up to the World Cup.
Read also
La Rochelle 30-27 Toulouse: Menoncello’s debut match report · Menoncello, Toulouse’s battering ram · All news
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Danpat — DanPat Rugby