Conor O’Shea gets a grip on Italian job

Conor O’Shea is just a handful of months into a four-year term as Italy coach but the former Ireland international has already begun to make an impression far beyond the borders of the national squad.

News of his move from Harlequins to Italy broke last March and the 45-year old spoke about his intention to build the “best Italy team ever” prior to a summer tour of the Americas that delivered close wins against the USA and Canada after a six-point loss to Argentina.

His family made the move only this month. Home now is the world heritage city of Verona where Shakespeare set three of his most famous plays and which lies, symbolically, roughly halfway between Treviso and Parma, the latter the base for Zebre.