Ironically when Ireland were at their lowest ebb in the 90s, Italy’s own golden generation were going toe to toe with Europe’s best.

O’Shea is as much director of rugby as he is coach with the Azzurri, but he has called on the insight of Wayne Smith and Brendan Venter, two men with a track record of success and innovation at the highest level.

Drop down to club level and Benetton are enjoying arguably their greatest-ever season with an evident game plan under Kieran Crowley that functions regardless of the players available.

Their success this season is more evidence that while big name talent can make an immediate impact, in the end development comes from within.

This year’s progress is a start, regardless of whether they make the play-offs which I fear they might not.

With rugby somewhere around the ninth or tenth most popular sport in Italy, the idea of a schools system ever rivalling Ireland or the Kiwis seems utopic.

Instead, the focus has been on the academies and building talent through them. Last year’s Under-20s finished fourth in the Six Nations, they have avoided the relegation bracket of the World Cup in each of the last two seasons.

It might not seem much, but again it’s a start.

The problem is that the gap has widened to the rest of Europe at senior level. Scotland have turned things around – ignoring this year’s injury nightmare – and the only other team who should travel to Italy with any real trepidation is France who are another case entirely.

It is a vicious cycle where lack of results in the Test arena make it look like Italy have regressed.

The focus on academies is the right decision, and the likes of fly-half Antonio Rizzi and tighthead Marco Riccioni already look capable of playing Test match rugby.

That is only the first step though. As Ireland showed, the key is capitalising on a golden generation to create a powerhouse.

O’Shea currently has more responsibility than almost any coach in world rugby. His biggest test is just around the corner.

The Guinness PRO14 Final is one of the most entertaining games in the rugby calendar and takes place in Glasgow’s Celtic Park on May 25. Tickets start at just £25 for adults, £1 for kids. Visit www.pro14rugby.org/finaltickets