After decades of indifference, soccer-mad Italy is finally falling in love with its rugby team after they managed two Six Nations wins in the same season for the first time. Their 23-20 win over Wales on the weekend — two weeks after a 37-17 victory against Scotland — sealed their most successful campaign with one home game against Ireland still to come.

When the first round of Serie A matches kick off on Sunday, the fans will cheer, wave banners and throw firecrackers. Everything will look just as it did four months ago at the end of last season. But if you listen carefully you might hear, under the roar of the crowds, an unfamiliar sound: a collective sigh of relief that — finally — the new season is under way.