MOST INTERNATIONAL FLY-halves like to have their kicking coaches alongside them but Italy’s Tommaso Allan prefers to keep his anonymous and at a distance.
The 22-year-old — who has been compared to Italy’s legendary kicker Diego Dominguez — sends an England-based coach videos of his kicking over the internet and the coach analyses them before giving advice on how to improve technique.
Allan refuses to name the mystery advisor. But he says it has had been extremely positive for him.
“I have to send him clips or talk to him over the phone,” Allan said.
“It has been going well the last few months and I’ve been working hard on it and it helps my confidence and hopefully this week will go well as well,” added Allan, whose idols are England’s 2003 World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, All Black great Dan Carter and our own Jonathan Sexton.
Allan, who plays club rugby for fallen French giants Perpignan, said that when he is on the pitch he tries to blank out the action going on around him.
“It is a lot of mental rehearsal,” said Allan, who has racked up 60 points in 17 Tests since making his debut in 2013.
“Working on the routine and getting in the zone really, not thinking about what is going on around you, just concentrating on the task.”
Italy-born Allan does not seem to regret his decision to turn his back on the land of his father William’s birth, Scotland. He did however play for the Scotland under-17, under-18 and under-20 sides before making his mind up.
One of his uncles, John Allan, played for both Scotland and South Africa.
Italy have lost all three of their warm-up games, twice to Scotland and once to Wales. But Allan is encouraged by the wave of young players breaking into the team and perhaps promising a better future for the team.
“We try and bring a lot of confidence with our game,” said Allan, whose mother captained the Italy women’s team in the first Test they played.
“We’ve been together for two years now and I think that we are more confident in how we want to play and we want to show that there is also a backline in the Italy team and not only a forward pack.”
Well done Fordey and best of luck.
G’day Stockholm see you in 3 more sleeps with added jerseys socks and jocks..
Välkommen till Stockholm lads. Wrap up well, it’s feckin’ freezing over here and the snow has returned.
Looking for places to go before/after the match? I’d suggest 3 places… The Dubliner (underground station Hötorget – near central station) and Wirströms and The Liffey both in the old town (underground station Gamla Stan) but of course there’s loads more around.
The Swedish Irish society will be having their St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday (postponed from last Saturday due to a royal funeral) at 1pm starting from Humlegården (underground station Östermalmstorg) and finishing in the old town. COYBIG!
Call me an optimist but I think we will get away with only 3-0 on Friday night
It’s going to be brutally cold!!! In fairness, I don’t plan on doing much sightseeing…. Warm pub, cold beer, happy days! COYBIG
Looking forward to it and if I just come back with a flu ill be happy :-)