Shanklin: brain can beat Italy brawn

GRAND SLAM-WINNING centre Tom Shanklin has backed Welsh "rugby brains" to get the better of Italy in today's crunch RBS 6 Nations Championship clash at the Millennium Stadium.

Italy have shown marked improvements under new coach Pierre Berbizier and pushed England, Ireland and France for an hour before trailing off in the final quarter of each game.

Shanklin, who will be watching from the sidelines as he continues his recuperation from knee surgery, believes tomorrow's clash with take on a similar pattern.