Italy will be contenders in three years, says Conor O’Shea

Conor O’Shea expects mutterings of mirth but still remains convinced Italy will boast a “very good team” inside three years.

The former Ireland full-back has admitted the Azzurri have a “mountain to climb” to pull off an RBS 6 Nations victory over Joe Schmidt’s side in Rome tomorrow.

Head coach O’Shea believes he can shake off the oddity of preparing a Test team to face Ireland, then insisted last weekend’s 33-7 loss to Wales does not represent a return to struggling form for the Italians.