The Albany Gazette - Negri urges Italy to maintain Six Nations progress

Italy have spent much of the 25 years since they became the sixth nation propping up the table in European rugby union's showpiece tournament.

But 2024 saw Italy win two of their five championship games, defeating Scotland and Wales, with the Azzurri unlucky to draw with France.

Scotland co-captain Finn Russell, speaking Friday ahead of the Murrayfield opener between the two teams, said this is the best Italy side he will have faced.

And Azzurri back-row Negri was in no mood to disagree.

"I feel like we're in a really good cycle at the moment," said the 30-year-old. "Obviously, we've been through ups and downs as a team, but I feel like this is a really good Italian team to be a part of.

"We've got to embrace that, we can't shy away from that. It's a different challenge for us now. With the cycle and where we are as a team, we've got to put in some performances and get some results.

"That's an exciting thing to be a part of."

Negri was involved in Italy's 31-29 win over Scotland in Rome last March -- a defeat he expects to fuel the home side in their quest for revenge in Edinburgh on Saturday.

"There's been a lot of rugby played after that, and we know Scotland will be hurting from that," said Negri. "We know they've talked about putting things right and a bit of revenge, I guess, so we've got to expect that.

"It's always hard and tough playing here. We're under no illusions. We've got to put in a really good performance to have any chance of getting a result here.

"I looked at Scotland's team yesterday (Thursday), I just see a really quality team there, full of depth. People say that maybe Italy are in one of their better cycles, that we're a really good team; I look at Scotland and I can say exactly the same of them."

(S.Perez--TAG)