“Italy on the podium at the Six Nations 2026? Bold, but not impossible”

The first to say it was South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus after the trio of matches against the Azzurri played during 2025, with the last match played in Turin and won by his team with a score of 14-32: “Italy? If I can make a prediction, I think they will arrive on the podium, between second and third place at the 2026 Six Nations”.

An endorsement from Rassie Erasmus for Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy which seemed to have remained there but which in the early hours of this new year was also picked up by the French press.

The transalpine magazine RugbyRama tried to unbalance some predictions for this new year. And, among others, there is also the one regarding Italy’s prospects for the next Six Nations.

“Italy on the podium at the Six Nations 2026? Bold, but not impossible”

Among the magazine’s bets for 2026, from Pau in the Top 14 final to Bordeaux’s Champions Cup double, there is that of an Italy that can surprise at the next edition of the Six Nations, reaching a place on the podium for the first time in the final ranking of the tournament. Below is what the transalpine editorial team wrote about the bet “Italy on the podium of the Six Nations”.

Read also: The 5 rugby events of a revolutionary 2026

“With this we are simply paraphrasing Rassie Erasmus. After his team’s victory against Italy (14-32) in November, the brilliant South African coach declared: ‘I would say that Italy will finish second or third in the Six Nations’. And we follow him!”.

“It must be said that Ange Capuozzo and his teammates finished 2025 on a high, in particular with a historic victory against Australia (26-19) during the international test matches in November. For the 2026 Six Nations, they will host Scotland and England and travel to France, Ireland and Wales. Bold bet, but not impossible!”.

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