Mallett refuses to tip Irish ahead of England’s visit

ITALIAN coach Nick Mallett sidestepped comparisons between Ireland and England as thoughts turn towards the next big Six Nations date at Croke Park on February 28.

“When you’ve shipped over 30 points against both teams, it’s really difficult to make a judgement on what might happen between the two. It’s one I really couldn’t predict with any degree of certainty; all I can say is that we literally gave a gift of four tries to England and we gifted Ireland three. I doubt if either England or Ireland will be so generous to each other,” he said.

If Mallett was annoyed that his side allowed a first-half challenge drift away in the Roman sunshine, he did accept that the better team won.