Italian hooker sings praises of O’Sullivan’s men

ITALY hooker Fabio Ongaro believes Ireland are the strongest team that the Azzurri will meet in the 2004 Six Nations campaign.

That may seem a strange claim given Italy have already tasted defeat at the hands of world champions England in Rome and unbeaten France in Paris.

However, the Benetton Treviso man believes Eddie O’Sullivan’s side’s stunning victory over England at Twickenham establishes them as the top side, though they were beaten by the French in Paris earlier.

“There is no doubt,” said Ongaro. “Ireland are certainly the strongest of the teams we have played until now.

“I don’t think they will be relaxed against us because their Twickenham win has given them the chance of winning the 2004 tournament.

“I doubt France will beat England in their final game and I foresee three teams (France, England and Ireland) with the same number of points at the end of the tournament.

“That would mean points difference would come into play and that’s why I think Ireland will attack us to get the maximum number of points.”

Ongaro believes a watertight defence is the key to his side’s hopes of overturning Ireland in Saturday’s match at Lansdowne Road. Ireland are on a roll after their sensational victory over England at Twickenham but Ongaro believes Italy still have a slender chance of consigning the Irish to defeat on home soil.

Ongaro said: “This week we have worked a lot on attack but also with an eye on defence. If we manage to defend well and to not give any space to the Irish we can find the method and space to score more than they can against a nervous team.”