Italy’s Six Nations win fuels belief but not complacency
REACTION: Italy’s encouraging start to their Six Nations campaign has opened the door to exceeding expectations this season, with head coach Gonzalo Quesada pointing to a growing sense of maturity within the squad.
Saturday’s gritty 18-15 victory over Scotland in driving rain at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico was built on a solid scrum and outstanding defensive resolve, achieved despite the absence of several key players.
“We never spoke about the injuries,” Quesada said. “We managed that internally with the staff, but we remained calm and confident in the group available to us.
For some players, it was an important opportunity, and it’s another sign of our maturity. Those who had played less stepped up and performed very well. We showed real character and didn’t allow external expectations to affect us.”
Italy travel to Dublin to face Ireland next, a formidable challenge on paper, but Quesada hopes the confidence gained from the Scotland win can be harnessed without losing perspective.
“It’s good to raise expectations and think about what’s possible when you feel big results are within reach,” he said. “But we know where we still need to improve, and it’s important to keep our feet on the ground.”
Captain Michele Lamaro echoed that sentiment, stressing the importance of backing up the performance.
“When you win, you can’t get carried away,” Lamaro said. “It’s often easy to produce a high-intensity performance in the first match, but the real test is confirming it the following week.
⌚️ Louis Lynagh with the perfect finish to score the opening try for Italy in their victory over Scotland in Rome 🤩#Breitling #DefiningMoment @Breitling pic.twitter.com/S71ayoy3IH
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 7, 2026
After seeing how Ireland approached their game against France, we know they’ll be ready, and if we’re not, it could be a very long afternoon in Dublin.”
He added that the win over Scotland should reinforce belief within the squad.
“This performance shows that when we use our strengths, we can hurt a lot of teams. Scotland arrived with a strong side, and we beat them in conditions they’re used to. That’s something we can be proud of.”
