Italy blow as Castrogiovanni misses rest of Six Nations
The Leicester Tigers star sprained his right knee in the Azzurri’s historic 37-17 triumph against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Castrogiovanni was not included in coach Pierre Berbizier’s squad for the game against Wales on March 10 at the Flaminio Stadium. And yesterday the Italian Rugby Federation confirmed that he will also be unavailable for the final Six Nations encounter against Ireland a week later.
The 25-year-old is expected to be out of action for five to six weeks.
Berbizier will also have to do without injured duo Andrea Masi and Fabio Ongaro for the Wales game.
In the meantime, Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan has been impressed by Italy’s RBS Six Nations revival and is expecting them to provide a difficult final hurdle for Ireland.
Italy mauled Scotland 37-17 to register their first away win in the championship since joining in 2000. They also succeeded in making England look very poor in a creditable 20-7 defeat at Twickenham, banishing memories of their dismal Six Nations opener against France in the process.
O’Sullivan believes coach Pierre Berbizier’s success in persuading veteran scrum-half Alessandro Troncon to come out of retirement has been a masterstroke.
And the Ireland boss is aware the Azzurri will be ready to end his side’s title pretensions once and for all if they are not given sufficient respect at the Stadio Flaminio on March 17.
“I haven’t seen a game like Italy’s one against Scotland – it was worse than us in Paris last year,” he said.
“They gave away three tries so early and that was catastrophic, the worst possible start.
“They might have won the game had they not given Italy that start but Pierre Berbizier knows what Italy are about. He has got them ticking the right way. We go to Rome for the our last game and it will be a humdinger. They’re such a physical team and they hang onto the ball for so long.
“They’re aggressive in defence and can cause problems,” he said.
Elsewhere, England winger Jason Robinson has been told he will not need surgery on the neck injury which kept him out of the record defeat to Ireland last weekend.
The Sale player missed the 43-13 defeat at Croke Park which severely dented the world champions’ hopes of winning the RBS Six Nations Championship.
Robinson saw a specialist last night who advised him to rest for a few days to let the neck pain settle down, meaning he could be in contention for England’s game with France at Twickenham on March 11.
“The good news is that the problem should not need any corrective surgery and with the correct rest and rehab, Jason should be back playing very soon,” said Sale club doctor Dave Jones.
Magnus Lund, Robinson’s team-mate for club and country, is currently recovering from injury.
Lund explained: “I picked up a couple of bangs to the head at Croke Park and am feeling much better.”
The flanker could also come into contention for England’s appointment with France.
Jones added: “Magnus will not play again until he has taken and passed the necessary tests.
“It is very doubtful he will play this weekend but we are hopeful he will be fit next week.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
