ITALY TEAM PROFILE

Alook back at their first tournament in 2000 reveals the Italians conceded 228 points, averaging just over

45 points per game, despite victory over Scotland on the opening day. Last season they conceded 131 points – just eight more than Scotland – to prove how far they have come this decade. In 2009 they have the advantage of three games at the Stadio Flaminio and the misconception that Rome will offer a comfortable weekend break is long gone
– Italy mean business. To open their campaign they face a tough trip to Twickenham before returning home to play Ireland. The Irish will be vulnerable if the French have given them a torrid time in Dublin but lethal if they have rediscovered form and got off to a winning start. The Italians will target Edinburgh as an opportunity to bag points having won the last two meetings in the Six Nations including a 37-17 victory on their last outing at Murrayfield.

Italy finish the tournament playing host to Wales and France. They have beaten Wales twice in four meetings at the Stadio Flaminio but couldn’t contain to the eventual Grand Slam winners last season in Cardiff, losing 47-8 in the end. If Wales have failed to emulate that form in the first half of the 2008 tournament, they will be beatable in Rome. The French, however, are a different matter. Italy have never beaten their neighbours in the Six Nations and it is difficult to see this changing in 2009 as Les Bleus may be in contention on the final day – it is unlikely that the Azzurri will be.

In last year’s Six Nations, Leicester’s tight-head prop Martin Castrogiovanni was the outstanding prop on show. The Tigers man was formidable in the scrum, he tackled heroically and carried effectively. He also managed three tries, only outdone by flying wingers Vincent Clerc of France and Wales’ Shane Williams. Italy’s captain, Sergio �

COACH

NICK MALLET

Mallet took the Italian national job in October 2007 after three years out the game. He won back to back French titles with Stade Francais at the beginning of the decade having been arguably South Africa’s best ever head coach. In three years at the helm he took them to 25 victories in 38 games, a win record of 71%, which is by far the most outstanding in recent years for the Springboks. He also became the first Springbok coach to have won the Tri-nations in 1998; only World Cup-winning Jake White has repeated this feat since.

The former Springbok number eight is renowned for getting the best out of players and taking teams to the next level.

Top right Powerful prop Salvatore Perugini Left Simon Picone was a success at scrum-half in 2008

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