ROME -- As the curtain came down on rugby’s international interlude, the Six Nations has left fans and pundits satiated from a show full of spectacle, drama, and surprises. But there was one sub-plot which no one had been expecting. Italy, registering their best ever Six Nations campaign, had been transformed.

 With two wins, one draw, and 11 points, few had expected to see Gli Azzurri look so rejuvenated. It would have been even better too if Paolo Garbisi had converted his last-gasp penalty against France.

 Italy’s final result, a 24-27 win over Wales in Cardiff, sealed their record-breaking campaign and a remarkable turnaround from being whitewashed in last year’s tournament. But in contrast to the win over Wales in 2022, which ended with Italian players in tears having ended a 16-match losing streak, there was something more composed about Italy’s celebrations on Saturday.

 This team was calm and collected and will regard a historic campaign as the start of something new. But as the rugby world is stunned by Gonzalo Quesada’s Lazarus, there is one question everybody is asking: how did Italy get here?

The Quesada Effect

 When Argentinian Quesada took over as Italy’s coach in January, reviving a faltering team looked an unlikely task. Kieran Crowley had begun to lay the foundations but his side lacked cohesion and, ultimately, the results. Italy had been bruised by a difficult World Cup campaign, losing 96-17 to New Zealand, 60-7 to France, and exiting at the pool stage.

 Quesada’s first task was to imbue Italy with an identity, and the early signs have proved successful. Italy looked fluid in attack and defensively dogged, married together by the characteristic desire to play for the shirt.

 Quesada’s selections have also paid off, not just trusting a young core but also reaching into the depths of his squad. Italy went into the tournament unable to rely on the experience of Saracens prop Marco Riccioni and had to cope with injuries to key individuals Ange Capuozzo and Lorenzo Cannone. But their replacements Lorenzo Pani and Ross Vintcent respectively proved their own talent and the quality in Quesada’s squad.

 But results are crucial to building any project and Quesada has already achieved that. Italy’s historic finish means he has already surpassed previous coaches Pierre Berbizier and Jacques Brunel, while instilling a winning identity.

 Speaking after the win versus Wales, Quesada praised his team for “never being afraid to win.” That was proven not just in Cardiff but also in the battling comeback win over Scotland.

 Unlike with previous iterations of Italy, Quesada has now built a winning culture.

Defensive prowess

 A key part of the identity installed by Quesada has been Italy’s defensive strength. That was telling in the win against Scotland: Italy had just 3% possession in the final ten minutes but controlled the game to see out the win.

 Italy relied on the defence to control large passages against Wales and to frustrate England in the opener. Throughout the tournament, Italy made 955 tackles and it was that defensive foundation which allowed Italy to play with freedom in attack and unlock the quality of Monty Ioane and Paolo Garbisi.

 That defensive intensity was characterised by captain Michele Lamaro, who capped a quietly impressive tournament with a dominant performance in Cardiff. Lamaro made 103 tackles in five matches and demonstrated the willingness and leadership which made him captain.

 Italy’s defensive performances were crucial in seeing out two wins and could also have been enough to stun France in Lille.

Italy’s youth revolution

 If Italy’s Six Nations campaign surprised many, Quesada will be optimistic that more is to come. With an average age of just 25, this squad has been at the forefront of Italy’s desire to integrate a new generation of talent.

 That youthful core has been, in part, down to Italy relying on the league success of Benetton and Zebre, and this generation has already proved its quality. Tommaso Menoncello, Louis Lynaugh, Lamaro, Vintcent, Cannone, and Pani were among the standout talents which will form the core of the Italian team in years to come.

 That is without adding in the names of young absentees Alessandro Izekor, Federico Mori, or Zebre’s record scorer Simone Gesi. The success of the U20s generation at the recent U20s Six Nations also demonstrates Italy have a pipeline of talent which could finally offer Gli Azzurri depth and versatility.

 The next step for Quesada’s young Italian side will be continuing this trajectory. Italy’s credentials will be tested in the summer series which sees this side take on Japan, Samoa, and Tonga, before a highly anticipated meeting with South Africa in November.

 Those fixtures might once have been daunting tasks, with Italy instantly written off. But this Italian side has been transformed. Now that Quesada’s team is no longer the Six Nations laughing stock and can look towards a bright future, Gli Azzurri will be eagerly awaiting more opportunities to underline their quality and, perhaps, slowly build towards success.