We need to play perfect game, says Mallett

ITALY coach Nick Mallett is looking for the Azzurri to play a perfect game against Ireland as they attempt to forget their opening 6 Nations defeat at England.

“That game was a disappointment for the whole group,” admitted Mallett. “This week we have worked hard.

“The atmosphere is good and I have had the players’ total attention. Our wish to play a great game against Ireland and give our fans an afternoon to remember is there. But in order to do that we must play a perfect game.”

Mallett has been forced to make some changes to his starting XV, with Italy’s number 10 Andrea Marcato and lock Marco Bortolami failing to recover from injuries sustained against England.

But the Azzurri coach’s biggest move has been to call Calvisano scrum-half Paul Griffen to the squad after a 16-month absence.

Griffen will replace Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half, and will play alongside club team-mate Luke McLean, who comes in for the injured Marcato.

Bergamasco returns to his flanker position after last weekend’s experiment of playing at scrum-half proved a failure.

Rovigo lock Tommaso Reato has beaten opposition from Carlo Antonio Del Fava to replace Bortolami, who has failed to recover from a knee problem sustained at Twickenham.

“Griffen represents the best choice considering our current situation,” said Mallett. “Mauro Bergamasco returns to the third line and I believe that we can expect a great game from him.

“With Marco Bortolami unavailable, I believe that Tommaso Reato can offer more security than Carlo Antonio Del Fava, who has played little of late due to injury.”

Mallett is aware of the challenge his team face against an Ireland side that showed great strength in their 30-21 win over France last weekend.

“Our opponents are coming from an important home win against France,” said Mallett. “They had not achieved such a result in the tournament since 2003. I believe that in the last year with Declan Kidney as coach, they have improved considerably.

“I think when they play with their hand, they are more dangerous than England and if we want to clinch some points, we will need to play a perfect game.”

Italy will have plenty of support in their first home game of the tournament, with 30,000 fans expected to attend the encounter at the Flaminio.

“On Sunday we will have the support of our fans and that will be a boost for us,” said Leicester Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni, who returned to play for the Azzurri last weekend after a one-year absence through injury.

“I remember in my first Six Nation back in 2002, when we played against Ireland the stadium was all green and now it’s all blue. If Ireland want to win on Sunday they will have to fully merit it because at home, no-one comes and takes points easily.”

Italy will need all the support they can get for they have yet to claim the scalp of Ireland after nine failed attempts in the tournament.

In the four games between the sides in Rome, Ireland have won by an average of 20.25 points.

ITALY (v Ireland, Stadio Flaminio, Sunday): A Masi (Biarritz); K Robertson (Viadana), G Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), M Pratichetti (Calvisano); L McLean (Calvisano), P Griffen (Calvisano); S Perugini (Toulouse), F Ongaro (Saracens), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), S Dellape (Toulon), T Reato (Rovigo), A Zanni (Calvisano), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), S Parisse (Stade Francais).

Replacements: C Festuccia (Racing Metro Paris), C Nieto (Gloucester), CA Del Fava (Ulster), J Sole (Viadana), G Toniolatti (Capitolina), G Garcia (Calvisano), A Bacchetti (Rovigo).