Kirwan delays selection

Italy coach John Kirwan has delayed his team selection for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against England and will not now announce his line-up until tomorrow.

With a number of key players suffering from minor injuries, Kirwan will consult team doctors for an update on their condition.

He could be without three Benetton Treviso players after concerns arose over the fitness of Silvio Orlando, Santiago Dellape and Denis Dallan.

Front-row forward Orlando suffered a blow to his back during training on Wednesday, while Dellape is working his way back to fitness following a recent injury and Dallan has a knee complaint.

Dallan trained today and hopes to be able to prove his fitness in time to be selected.

Kirwan also revealed that full-back Mirco Bergamasco had suffered a knock in this morning’s training, with the Stade Francais back’s participation also now in doubt.

“Bergamasco also suffered a minor muscle problem in his thigh and did not finish training,” Kirwan revealed.

“I was really confident yesterday, but now I am faced with this situation. When it rains it pours.

“However, I’m hoping to recover all the players.

“Tomorrow I will have a meeting with the doctors and I will give the team after that meeting.”