Italy lost 24-27 to England on
Saturday afternoon in the opening match of the 2024 Six Nations
rugby competition at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
"It's always hard when you're that close and you can't get to
the win," said Italy captain Michele Lamaro after the match.
"We played a good first half, I think the second half we
conceded a bit too much. I'm proud of the boys, though. We
always fight for each other and that's the most important
thing," he added.
On Wednesday new Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada said the team was
seeking to harness their Latin passion ahead of Saturday's game.
The Argentine is looking to boost the fortunes of the Azzurri,
whose wins in the Six Nations have been scarce since they joined
in 2000 and who suffered humiliating defeats to France and New
Zealand at last year's World Cup under his predecessor Kieran
Crowley.
Italy's next match will be against Ireland at the Aviva stadium
in Dublin on February 11.
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