Peter Jackson: Can Conor O’Shea rescue Italy?

The Italians are clearing the decks for their Irish saviour, a Munster man whose father won three All-Ireland football finals with Kerry in the 50s.

Conor O’Shea is due to inherit a team not just in bits but in some danger of ending up among the Roman ruins as a relic of the Six Nations. His imminent arrival coincides with a growing clamour for Georgia to be given an overdue shot at promotion to the promised land.

Whether Tblisi is to replace Rome among the elite of European rugby capitals will be determined, for better or worse, by what kind of a difference O’Shea can make. After years of politely stating their case, the Georgians are not so much knocking on the door as hammering on it.