Berbizier replaces Kirwan as Italy coach

PIERRE BERBIZIER has been confirmed as the new head coach of the Italian national team.

The former France international replaces New Zealander John Kirwan, who left his position earlier this month after Italy lost every game in this year’s RBS 6 Nations.

Berbizier was one of the favourites to replace Kirwan and has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Azzurri.

“I believe we have signed one of the best coaches in Europe,” said Giancarlo Dondi, president of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR).

“Our federation sees in Pierre Berbizier the right person to lead the Azzurri after John Kirwan. He is a coach with great experience and a strong personality.

“He signed a contract until the World Cup in France. It is important for us to have a long-term manager, especially for our ambitions.

“The FIR believe Berbizier will improve our gameplay and hopefully more and more victories will arrive, starting from the next Six Nations.”

Meanwhile, Wales’ Gareth Thomas and Stephen Jones are likely to be left behind when the Lions fly to New Zealand on May 24. Both players are wanted for important club matches in France on the final weekend of May.

Lions coach Clive Woodward said he will talk with the clubs this week to reach a compromise.

The final fixtures of the French Championship are played on May 28 before the league’s top four clubs fight for the title in a play-off system.

Clermont Auvergne, home of Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, have little chance of qualifying; but Thomas’ side Toulouse are very much in contention. The Heineken Cup semi-finalist lie third with five games to go, but Thomas is unlikely to stay behind for either the play-off semi-final (4 June) or final (11 June).

Jones admitted he was “caught between a rock and a hard place”, while Thomas is said to be pleased the matter will be settled amicably.

The pair will miss the Lions’ opener in New Zealand against Bay of Plenty on June 4, and they are unlikely to feature in the warm-up match against Argentina in Cardiff on Monday, May 23.

Meanwhile, two-time European champions Toulouse face an injury crisis just days ahead of their European Cup semi-final with Leicester Tigers.

Stand-in captain Frederic Michalak was rested because of a calf muscle worry and tiredness, though he is expected to be back in training tomorrow for Sunday’s clash in England.

Fellow France international, centre Yannick Jauzion, was undergoing treatment for a rib injury while former Ireland international back row forward Trevor Brennan was receiving attention on a tibia, after he took a blow to it in Friday’s championship win over Clermont-Auvergne.

Both France winger Cedric Heymans and Romain Millo-Schluski had to leave training to be treated for knee and back injuries respectively.

Toulouse have already lost France and club captain Fabien Pelous, Gareth Thomas and French international backs Xavier Garbajosa and Nicolas Jeanjean for the match.

One piece of brighter news was that Jean-Baptiste Poux resumed light training after picking up a shoulder injury in the match with Clermont-Auvergne.

Toulouse’s fellow French side Stade Francais also have major injury worries ahead of Saturday’s semi-final with another French outfit, Biarritz.

Coach Fabien Galthie looks set to start scrum-half Jerome Fillol at fly-half because of injuries to first choice David Skrela, who has damaged rib ligaments, while the other two potential choices Gonzalo Quesada and South African-born centre Brian Liebenberg have pulled a thigh muscle and sprained an ankle respectively.

Fillol said he wasn’t too worried about filling an unfamiliar position.

” I am not too worried,” said 27-year-old Fillol, whose previous experience in the position was 12 years ago in a youth match between Agen and Bayonne.