Mallett: we’ll take a major scalp

NICK MALLETT has warned Italy’s remaining Six Nations rivals: “Ignore us at your peril; we’re not too far away from a major scalp.”

The South African credited Ireland with a worthy victory at Croke Park on Saturday, and hailed Ronan O’Gara as Ireland’s “lethal weapon”. But the ex-Springbok coach insisted there were positives to take away from an 11-16 away defeat.

Next up is England in Rome, and the coach is licking his lips at the prospects of the biggest scalp in Italian rugby history.