Italrugby Disappointed and Frustrated; Paolo Garbisi in the Hot Seat: Furious Fans

Italy continues to fall short of its first victory in the Nations Championship. In Saturday’s match against Argentina in Genoa, with the score at 14-19, the Azzurri had a chance to kick the ball into touch near the opponent’s try line after time had already expired. Paolo Garbisi, however, kicked the ball directly over the dead-ball line, and the referee blew the whistle to end the match, much to the (incredulous) relief of the Pumas. It was a mistake for which the Italian fly-half immediately paid dearly, including in terms of criticism.

Immediately after the final whistle, social media was flooded with comments, many of which were very harsh toward the Italian fly-half, who plays for Toulon. Some fans described the mistake as “epithetizing Italian rugby,” while others openly called for his removal from the national team.

“The Argentines tried everything to make us win, but luckily we have Paolo Garbisi,” wrote an Italian fan on Instagram under the post about the final score. “I want to hear from anyone who still has the courage to defend him,” “Great players show their worth in crucial moments—he isn’t one” are other comments under the same post. Some fans also argue that Garbisi has lost his edge in recent seasons and that his performance has declined compared to his prime, when he played for Montpellier at the club level.

Some comments have also suggested giving playing time to other players, such as Miotti (who was just signed specifically to “snatch” him away from the Pumas) or young players from the Under-20 team, calling for Garbisi to take a break from the national team. The general consensus among fans who commented on the match is that the player needs at least some time to reflect in order to regain his form and confidence.

Not all comments, however, singled out Garbisi. Some fans pointed out that Italy squandered two try opportunities in the first half, while others complained about a few too many calls in favor of the Argentines. Most fans, however, agreed it was a deserved loss, even though the Argentines hadn’t played a brilliant game either.