Defence key for Parisse as Italians look to regain pride

ITALY will try to prove to others and themselves that they merit a place in the RBS 6 Nations following their “disastrous” defeat to England a fortnight ago.

Fresh off a narrow home loss to Ireland in their tournament opener, the Azzurri were ripped to shreds at Twickenham.

Nick Mallett’s men lost 59-13 and will try to banish the memory of that humiliation when they take on Wales today at Rome’s Stadio Flaminio.

“We want to bounce back from the defeat in London,” captain Sergio Parisse said. “It really hurt us and not just from a psychological point of view.

“We should have confirmed what we had done against Ireland in our opener and we didn’t do that.

“For us the game in London was an important test and it proved disastrous.

“The fact is that we always struggle to maintain in back-to-back games the same quality.

“Against Wales we have to be mentally strong, be more precise from a technical standpoint and try to avoid making the same mistakes we made two weeks ago.”

Wales go into the encounter in Rome inspired by their 24-6 triumph over Scotland at Murrayfield last time out.

And Parisse knows Italy must find the defensive strength they displayed when they were narrowly beaten by Ireland. “We have worked so much this week, especially on defence,” Parisse said. “We must hold possession because to give the ball to Wales means allowing their three-quarters that are very strong to make life difficult for us.

“We must always fear losing by 30 or 40 points because that is the only way we can be competitive.”

Meanwhile, Wales wing Shane Williams has touched down in Rome ready to inflict fresh misery on an Italian side eagerly awaiting his flight back home.

The Azzurri will be thankful they might not see him again, as Williams – 34 today – maintains 2011 will be his final year of international rugby.

The Welsh try-scoring machine has shredded Italy’s defence like few others, claiming nine tries in eight Tests and not failing to score against them since 2006.

His double at Murrayfield a fortnight ago accounted for Scotland and kick-started Wales’ Six Nations campaign following an opening loss to England, with victory today guaranteed to keep them in title contention.

And if Williams increases his Test try tally from 55 for Wales and the British and Irish Lions, it would inch him closer towards Australian legend David Campese’s world-best figure of 64.

“I would like to think I still have a few tries in me,” the Ospreys star said. “I am only nine short of David Campese and I could probably do that in 12 months!

“I try not to dwell on those sort of records too much, and we will have to see what happens for the rest of the season, but I am as hungry as ever.”