South African Franco Smith said he wanted to make Italy’s national rugby team a competitive side following his official unveiling as head coach of the Azzurri.
Smith took over on an interim basis from Conor O’Shea in November after the latter resigned after three years in the role.
Reports suggest that the 47-year-old’s contract will run until after the 2023 Rugby World Cup into 2024.
Smith spoke from a video-conference from his home in Bloemfontein, South Africa, saying: “We’ll try to build a new DNA.”
He said that the Six Nations tournament that ended prematurely marked the beginning of a growth path for the players and staff.
“Starting from three cornerstones; greater unpredictability, greater physicality and the ability to always give everything, thanks to a high work ethic.
“These are goals that must concern everyone from the under-eights right through to the national team.
Smith is supported by a team of six coaching assistants including fellow South Africans Marius Goosen (defence coach) and Quintin Kruger (athletic trainer).
Smith has experience with Italian rugby having played for Bologna and Treviso after which he coached the latter for another six years.
“I have known the reality of Italian rugby for 20 years; it is a source of great pride for me to face this challenge.”
Smith will have a tough task reinventing a team which has in recent years performed dismally at the Six Nations winning just 12 games out of a possible 103 in the last 20 seasons.
