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Italy captain Lamaro sees shift in public perception

Captain Michele Lamaro has spoken about the shift in perception surrounding Italy following their failure to secure consecutive Six Nations victories.

In the past, Italy captain Michele Lamaro was often questioned about the team's potential exit from the Six Nations, but times have changed.

Following Italy's narrow loss to Ireland, captain Michele Lamaro reflected on the shift in perception surrounding his team, which has made significant strides since its previous struggles in the tournament.

Italy's confidence was boosted after a win over Scotland in Rome, and the team carried this momentum into its match against Ireland in Dublin, where it dominated for large periods before ultimately falling 20-13.

After Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada expressed pride in his team's performance, Lamaro was asked about the growing sense of belief within the squad.

Lamaro, now in his fifth year as captain in the Six Nations, recalled his first year in the role, when the dominant question was about Italy's potential withdrawal from the tournament.

The Italian captain emphasized the importance of humility, recognizing the immense effort required to compete at the highest level against teams like Ireland.

The change in perception is significant for Lamaro, who noted that he didn't have the same level of belief when he was growing up.

Lamaro takes pride in the progress Italy has made, having risen from consistently finishing last in the table, and he hopes that one day his team will be championship contenders.

Ireland secured its first win of the tournament with a hard-fought victory over Italy.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell stated that his team was able to draw confidence from its win.

Lamaro, who was appointed captain by Kieran Crowley in 2021, emphasized the team's desire to inspire others, particularly the next generation of Italian players.

The 27-year-old captain hopes to create opportunities for young players and inspire those around him, providing a chance for them to succeed where he and his teammates did not.

Lamaro acknowledged that the journey to success can be challenging, but he believes that trusting the process is essential for achieving long-term goals and creating a lasting legacy.

The acknowledgement of Italy's improvement is a source of pride for Lamaro, who appreciates the recognition of the team's growth and the shift in perception.

After the match, Lamaro congratulated referee Hollie Davidson on her historic achievement as the first woman to officiate a men's Six Nations match.

Italy's previous visit to Dublin under Quesada and Lamaro ended in a 36-0 defeat, but this time the team was more competitive.

Ireland, still reeling from a loss to France, was vulnerable, and Italy sought to capitalize on this.

Lamaro recognized the importance of putting pressure on Ireland through the scoreboard, which would have made it difficult for the Irish to recover.

The Italian captain has experienced similar situations in the past, where a team's mindset can be affected by a difficult start to the game.

Lamaro praised Ireland's players, acknowledging their exceptional talent and dedication to their team and country, and expressed confidence in their ability to bounce back from recent setbacks.

He recognized that all teams face ups and downs, and Ireland is no exception, but he believes the team has the potential to regain its form.

At the conclusion of the post-match press conference, Lamaro took a moment to acknowledge Hollie Davidson's achievement in becoming the first female referee in the men's Six Nations.

He offered his congratulations, recognizing her contributions to the sport and her historic milestone.

Lamaro appreciated the opportunity to work with Davidson on the pitch and valued her efforts in officiating the game.

He expressed his support for her decisions during the match and commended her for a job well done.

Lamaro's tribute to Davidson was a heartfelt gesture, acknowledging the significance of her achievement and the importance of her role in the game.

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Ireland staged a second-half comeback to secure a narrow victory over Italy.

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At the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Keely Hodgkinson expressed her intention to pursue a world record, having recently shattered the British 800m record.

In a dominant display, Keely Hodgkinson finished nine seconds clear of the field in the 800m event at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

Following her record-breaking performance at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships, Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on achieving a new world record in the 800m event.

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This achievement marked the fastest women's 800m time in 24 years and the third-fastest in history.

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Hodgkinson emphasized that she believes the record is within her reach and intends to make a serious attempt to break it.

On the first day of the championships, Dina Asher-Smith delivered a remarkable performance, winning the women's 60m title with a time of 7.05 seconds, narrowly edging out Amy Hunt by a tenth of a second and establishing a new championship record.

In a post-event interview, the 27-year-old Asher-Smith mentioned that she had been feeling strong throughout the indoor season, noting that sometimes patience and race sharpness are essential for achieving fast times.

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Lucy Hadaway emerged victorious in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.45m, and Tito Odunaike took the men's triple jump title with a distance of 15.45m.

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Hull edge out Bradford in Super League comeback match

Hull FC narrowly defeated Bradford Bulls 27-20 at the MKM Stadium, thwarting the latter’s bid for a comeback win in their Super League return.

A try from Harvey Barron contributed to Hull FC's win over the Bradford Bulls.

The scoring breakdown for Hull FC included tries from Batchelor, Barron, Litten, and Cust, with Pryce making five goals and adding a drop goal.

Bradford's scoring consisted of tries by Blake and two from Wynne, with Milnes converting four goals.

Bradford Bulls' return to Super League after an 11-year absence ended in a narrow 27-20 defeat to Hull FC, who secured the win in the final minutes of the match at the MKM Stadium.

Following York Knights' one-point upset over reigning champions Hull KR just 48 hours prior, Bradford Bulls found themselves on the losing end of another thrilling season-opening match.

The Bulls put up a strong fight, with the score tied and only three minutes remaining in regular time, making it a closely contested match until the end.

A drop goal by Hull FC's Will Pryce gave his team the lead, and Cade Cust sealed the victory with a try in the 79th minute.

The Hull FC lineup consisted of Pryce, Barron, Hardaker, Litten, Martin, Kemp, Sezer, Knight, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, Romano, and Aydin.

Hull FC's interchange players were Cust, Fash, Lisone, and Sao.

The Bradford team included Aekins, Okunbor, Marsters, Blake, Wynne, Keyes, Milnes, Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Russell, Fulton, and Mellor.

Bradford's interchange players were Souter, Scurr, Doro, and Chamberlain.

The match was refereed by Marcus Griffiths.

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Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Dion Dublin weighed in on whether Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne deserved a red card for his high challenge on Norwich City’s Jacob Murphy.

A debate is underway regarding Aston Villa's Lucas Digne, with former footballers Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Dion Dublin weighing in on whether his high challenge on Jacob Murphy warranted a red card for Aston Villa.

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