Sailing, Luna Rossa: New Zealand fears Australian Spiethel

In a country where the balls become ovals, and black is the most beautiful color out there, the showdown between Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa is also experienced with the eyes, head and heart of a rugby player. When the Italian boat beat the defender, the dreaded Te Rihotay who turned out to be fast but not as fast as they were hoping in Auckland, in New Zealand not only saw the fallout of a 1-1 sail leaving any open judgment on the 36th America’s Cup (3rd and 3rd Regatta’s fourth on Italian night between Thursday 11 and Friday). March 12 I suspect a weak belly). Discover what can escape Italy as rugby and racing have become a national culture. And on the very Italian Luna Rossa, the only foreigner is an Australian, and therefore a rival in the eternal struggle between the two oceanic nations. And what an Australian: Jimmy Spiethl, assistant captain Francesco “Chico” Bruni, since yesterday is the most successful in history with 15 America’s Cup race victories, more than Russell Coates. In short-circuiting the All Blacks-Wallabies rivalry, as the two opposing schools of rugby are called, Spithill is actually a wallaby, which isn’t to say he’s a kangaroo as small as the animal that inspired the name, but rather he was playing on serious with the oval. Which brings the same values ​​to the boat.

Matches with Smith Waugh

As you know, Spithill also looks for mental inspiration and physical preparation in other sports to face the sea head on. He trains in boxing, he is a big expert in it, and as a boy he played rugby, against boys who have come a long way. George Smith, 111 “hat” in Australia and the fame that allowed him, when he decided, to auction his dreadlocks to charities, which raised money to fight cancer. But among Jimmy’s former classmates there is also Phil Wu, who was the second deputy captain of Australia in second place at the 2003 World Cup with which England won 20-17 with him on the field (and New Zealand finished third). Spithill, despite the obvious icy break even when he wins – his endurance was so memorable as Checco Bruni shouted “He’s beautiful” and nearly choked on the Prada Cup win – he lives in sailing as a team sport and a team effort: he always tried to do everything in his power to give the team Best shots to win” News Herald. “That doesn’t change depending on which teams I’m in. I’ll play any role, fill any position that gives the team the best chance of winning.” His rugby roots are something to remember, but without bragging: “I was a third grader, I played in high school, a bit in Newport too. I liked him a lot, but with guys like Phil Wu and George Smith there wasn’t much chance of a freshman playing. When we were kids, you could immediately see that these two guys were very strong, very talented. I played rugby more or less in high school, but then I had to start focusing on sailing,” Spithill explained. “Honestly, rugby wasn’t the way to get to the top, I didn’t have enough talent like many of my teammates. But I loved rugby culture, it definitely taught me a lot about team sport. The lesson I’ve learned since then. Always Young people surround myself with great people, better than me. I’ve been really lucky in that sense, with people who know how to put themselves in the background, they don’t think about themselves but just think what’s best for the team, that kind of culture.”

Admiration for all blacks

Spithill, a wallaby at heart, rugby-loving Spithill also clearly loves its most famous representatives, whom he encounters on a sailboat these days: “This culture is so central to the All Blacks, just take a look at the pillars on which this team was founded. I’ve always been intrigued. With them, I spent time with Keven Mealamu, as well as Dan Carter. Richie McCaw met him last week when he came to visit us. I’m a huge fan of the All Blacks, and their culture aroused.” The team spirit that now belongs to Jimmy is known as “Pitbull,” making him the only foreigner aboard Luna Rossa, a reference point in the Italian dream of the America’s Cup home.