**Italy captain Michele Lamaro believes Benetton’s Rainbow Cup triumph in 2021 played a key role in preparing the national team to end their losing run in the Guinness Six Nations.** The Azzurri halted a sequence of 36 successive losses in the competition stretching back to 2015 by pulling off a stunning 22-21 victory over Wales in Cardiff last weekend. Italy’s starting XV featured 10 Benetton players on the day, as well as fly-half Paolo Garbisi, who starred as the Treviso outfit went all the way in the Rainbow Cup having failed to win a single match in the preceding PRO14 campaign. Furthermore, Kieran Crowley – now head coach of the national team - led Benetton to their unexpected moment of glory in June, when they overcame the Vodacom Bulls in the final. “The Rainbow Cup last year was something very special for us after a very difficult season,” said 23-year-old flanker Lamaro. “I think that is something that gave us a lot of confidence moving on into the new season and with the national team as well.
