Italians aim to make it hot for the Irish

ITALIAN manager Carlo Checchinato is confident Italy will push Ireland all the way in Saturday’s opening RBS 6 Nations clash at Lansdowne Road.

The Italians face a huge challenge in trying to overcome Eddie O’Sullivan’s men in Dublin, having never won a game away from home in the Six Nations competition.

But new coach Pierre Berbizier has given fresh impetus to the Italy squad, and Checchinato is sure the players will rise to the challenge for the Frenchman’s first Six Nations game in charge of the national team.