There is a lot for Italian rugby fans to be happy about after Conor O'Shea's first outings at the helm of the national team.

The rejuvenated Azzurri lost in Argentina despite playing a solid game, then won (ugly) against the U.S. and Canada to at least end their first tour under their new head coach with a positive record. Winning is key, of course, but there is more to it than that.

Over the past three weeks, Italy has welcomed back its scrum -- comfortable even against a Rugby Championship-ready Pumas side -- regained those abrasive drives from mauls and, finally, rediscovered the fierce defence that was a foundation of the historic results of 2013, when they beat Ireland and France to finish fourth in the Six Nations.

Without some of his most valuable senators (Alessandro Zanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Francesco Minto, Michele Rizzo and, crucially, captain Sergio Parisse) and with other key elements of the group out through injury, O'Shea apparently found what his predecessors couldn't spot: new raw talent to start moulding for international rugby.

The group is widening at an impressive rate and that's the real plus for a nation left at its lowest ebb of the professional era after last year's Rugby World Cup.

O'Shea introduced some youngsters in Maxime Mbanda, Sami Panico, Sebastian Negri, Tommaso Boni and Tommaso Castello and they all made their debuts in admirable style. Props Andrea Lovotti and Pietro Ceccarelli, and hooker Ornel Gega - all called up in the last part of the Jacques Brunel era - were instrumental against Argentina and in the much-needed wins in North America. The dynamic Lovotti, in particular, seems to be the real deal that Italy was waiting for since the retirement of beloved former international looseheads Andrea Lo Cicero and Salvatore Perugini.

Add to the above the performance at the recent Under-20 World Championship of skipper Marco Riccioni -- a kid that has the potential to be Italy's next Martin Castrogiovanni - and things look bright for O'Shea in the front row for the foreseeable future.

Fly-half Carlo Canna is rapidly growing in personality and awareness and is now the stable first choice at No.10. Reliable from the tee - unlike Tommaso Allan, especially in decisive phases of matches - and increasingly keen on exploring the gaps he finds in the opposition lines, he was a key part of Italian tour success. At 23, it is amazing he was introduced so late in the national setup.

But there remains a lot of work for O'Shea and his staff, too, specifically with ball-carriers and the tactical kicking game.

Hooker Ornel Gega scores for Italy in their victory over U.S.A. in San Jose. Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Apart from South African-born duo Dries Van Schaklwyk and Quinti Geldenhuys, both in their thirties, Italy is missing big, powerful, industrious back rowers who can break the line simply by running straight. Think Billy Vunipola with England or Wales' Taulupe Faletau as just two examples from Six Nations rivals. Some 6 feet 6 inches, 110 kilogramme-plus locks would not go amiss either. Size does matter, but there is nobody of that ilk at present in Italian rugby at any level.

The other hole (and it is a huge one) is the tactical kicking game. It created a lot of problems under former coaches Pierre Berbizier and Nick Mallett, it was one of the top urgencies when Brunel came on board yet it remains an unresolved problem.

With the recent retirement of Andrea Masi, things got even more complicated. At the moment Luke McLean is the only player in the entire 40-man senior group to have the skills required by an international No.15 -- and his best performances came at wing. His positional sense and kicking range assure him of a place in the starting XV as there is no-one close.

David Odiete is not yet an international winger. He is learning the fullback position he occupied at juniors level but still needs to grow in tactical wisdom and reliability. The electric Under-20 Matteo Minozzi seems to have skills and potential but may pay a huge price to the physical challenge required in modern rugby.

The first thing O'Shea pointed out when appointed in March was that Italian players were not fit enough to compete at international level. It manifests itself physically and mentally. If the Azzurri are to contest every match against the top nations, they must execute properly for the full 80 minutes. Consider that this is a country that historically lives on passion and invention, and you can see why every coach before O'Shea has come up short.

So, yes, fitness is the first step. But it is consistency that has to be the ultimate goal. After all, the risk of getting hammered by a fast-growing Tier 2 nation has never been so high.