My divided loyalties: Italy and Scotland in the Six Nations
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Super Saturday is upon us – the last leg of the Six Nations, with some of the most anticipated clashes set to take place on the final day of the tournament.
It is the most exciting day for me at least, as it will kick off with the test between Scotland and Italy.
Since 2015, when I started following and playing rugby – recruited by a waitress in my favourite pub in Milan after being caught trying to watch the Rugby World Cup while surrounded by shouting football fans – Scotland has been the only team we have won against in the competition before a collection of wooden spoons that would make many a cook jealous.
That was until last year, when Italy managed to beat Wales, and the hearts of Italian rugby fans soared.
It's not easy life always being on the losing side but as a rugby player and fan I have started to appreciate the small progressions that have been made in recent years.
This year is different for Italian fans – and that is despite having lost the match we were supposed to win, against Wales, last weekend.
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We see a team that wants to attack, that has flare and that is less prone to amateurish mistakes.
Most importantly, a team that is able to play two halves and not collapse after half time.
There is still work to do, but we are getting closer to being an actual competitor in the tournament.
I am finally enjoying watching Italy play.
It is true that we start from a cultural gap which is quite significant. Italy doesn't have a big rugby culture, apart from a few pockets in the north-east regions.
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Although my grandfather and his brother both played rugby (the latter making the national team a couple of times) it is not something you come across often.
It is not taught at school and you don't get pubs filled with cheering crowds for the World Cup or the Six Nations – the only time I have seen that happening in Italy, it was a group of England fans.
And as for women's rugby, not only is it massively underrated, it is in fact sometimes viewed even seen with suspicion. But that's a story for another time (stay tuned as the Women's Six Nations is kicking off in two weeks!).
So, moving to Scotland and being able to embrace the tartan rugby culture has been refreshing.
I can still recall the goosebumps of my first time at Murrayfield and listening to Flower of Scotland being roared around the stadium.
In general, I love seeing Scotland playing so well this year – despite the defeats to France and Ireland they are taking really exciting rugby to the field and I really hope they will thrive when the World Cup arrives.
However, now it's time for the match closest to home for me.
Which kit should I wear? This Saturday, I will be donning the Italian kit because that's my home team and because I think they deserve credit and support for their hard work and achievements in recent months.
If in the past years I was usually resigned to a fairly big loss, this year I am confident it will be an exciting match.
But in any event I'll be happy to sit down and enjoy the rollercoaster of feelings the match will bring, with my Scots friends around me, no matter the result.
