Kirwan confident he can convert passion to points

By TIM GLOVER

John Kirwan is as passionate about Italy as he is about Italian rugby.

"A big part of us is the way we live," the New Zealand convert said. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm Italian. I love the country, the people, everything about it. We need to translate that culture on to the rugby field. It would be fantastic for the game if we could get a result."

For Italy the Six Nations' Championship starts on Sunday, when Italy play Wales at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome, sweet Rome.

It is time the Azzurri delivered. Since their sensational debut in 2000, a 34-20 victory over Scotland, the Italian file of achievement has formed a very slim document indeed. Scotland remains a solitary success.

The contest has been so one-sided that the decision to enlarge the old Five Nations has been brought into question.

"Don't talk to me about Italy not being in the competition," Kirwan said.

"It needs us. Just look at what the smaller countries did in the football World Cup. When Italy competed in the America's Cup four years ago, most of the population of 60 million stayed up throughout the night to watch it. Admittedly a large majority follow football, but rugby is growing and we're getting stronger. The question is are we getting better quickly enough?"

Last year, the answer was in the negative. Brad Johnstone, the former All Black prop who took charge after Italy's poor showing in the 1999 World Cup, left after another whitewash, describing the national setup as a "shambles".

Kirwan, his assistant, had no hesitation in taking on the post. At the launch of the championship in London last week, he certainly looked the part: black shirt beneath a black pinstripe suit. All that was missing was a violin case. And that was the official team uniform.

Kirwan was flanked by his captain, the halfback Alessandro Troncon, who did not see eye to eye with Big Brad. With Big John, it's different.

"Alessandro is one of the most passionate men you'll ever meet.I love their approach and what they're trying to do.

"Of course, it's important we get some results and it would be great if we made a good start, but we can't let that get in the way of our enjoyment, our passion. First and foremost, we must create our own style of play, the Italian way."

Kirwan did not always feel this way. In fact, over the years, he and New Zealand have inflicted a great deal of damage on Italy. In the curtain-raiser to the first cup in 1987, the All Blacks beat Italy 70-6 at Eden Park, Kirwan scoring the try of the tournament, a spectacular 75-metre solo in which he seemed to beat a sea of blue jerseys at least once, if not twice.

A powerfully built wing, he was a prolific try-scorer, but that was then....

"I'm not interested in the past," Kirwan said.

His love affair with Italy began 16 years ago when he joined Benetton Treviso.

"There weren't any professionals in those days," he said with a pronounced smile. La dolce vita has a price.

"I had such a great time, I kept going back, year after year, for nine seasons. It's a special place to live."

In Treviso, he married Fiorella and they have three children.

"I have an Italian passport and I'm fairly fluent, although my accent is still bad. I'm trying to read more Italian books, although it's not easy. The country has given me a great opportunity and I've had fantastic support from the governing body. I've got a staff who are working overtime."

One of them, the team manager Marco Bollesan, was the coach of Italy 16 years ago when Kirwan and company ran rings around them in the cup.

"It brings a smile to my face every time I think of him," Kirwan said.

It was almost 30 years ago that the late, great Carwyn James left Wales to coach Rovigo. In the new "super 10" Italian league, Rovigo are struggling. The successful clubs now are Calvisano, Viadana and Treviso, who have shown this season they are capable of producing the odd highlight in Europe. The trouble is, it remains distinctly odd.

"One day an Italian team will win the Heineken Cup. I don't care whether it's realistic. More passionate money is coming into the game. Some guys are investing fortunes out of their own pockets. Okay, some things happen that other countries wouldn't accept, but I'm being given a fair shot.

"We're also working hard on the technical side and discipline. A referee is on the staff and instead of conceding 18 penalties a game, we're conceding nine. All I ask is that you don't disturb us between two and three in the afternoon. That's when we're asleep. Perhaps that's why we've been losing. We've been playing when we should have been having a nap."

There's no doubt Kirwan has some talent at his disposal, but converting that to make a mark in international rugby is a huge ask. When France entered the arena in 1910, they had a torrid time. Whatever happens to Italy, Kirwan assures it will not be a passionless affair.

- INDEPENDENT