Berbizier bemoans lack of respect

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier feels the Azzurri are not treated with the same respect as other national teams in the RBS 6 Nations.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash against Ireland in Rome, Berbizier could not hide his anger at the ban given to Italy flanker Mauro Bergamasco.

Bergamasco was handed a four-week suspension after punching Wales captain Stephen Jones during his team’s 23-20 triumph last Saturday and will be unavailable to play until April 9.

“French commissioner Jean-Claude Legendre has changed his mind in one evening,” said Berbizier.

“How can you explain this? It must be the psychological pressure that exists at this level. I would like that Italy would be treated like other nations. Last year, Ireland players [Brian] O’Driscoll and [Denis] Leamy were not judged for stamping on the heads of Fabio Ongaro and Paul Griffen.

“We cannot say that Mauro (Bergamasco) is violent. His gesture was a technical one, another thing is to interpret the gesture differently in order to punish him.”

Calvisano flanker Maurizio Zaffiri will replace Bergamasco, and Berbizier has been forced to make another two changes to his starting XV.

Parma winger Ezio Galon will replace injured Gonzalo Canale, while Stade Toulouse prop Salvatore Perugini will step into the shoes of veteran Andrea Lo Cicero, who is struggling with a fever.

Despite the setbacks, Berbizier is nevertheless confident his team can maintain their form, which has seen them triumph against Scotland and Wales in the tournament so far.

“I now expect an enthusiastic performance from my youngsters,” he said.

“They have an opportunity to give their contribution to the group in the game against Ireland.”

Despite Berbizier’s irritation at the Bergamasco punishment, the state of Italian rugby has rarely, if ever, been in better health.

Whatever the result of the St Patrick’s Day clash with Ireland in the Eternal City, the Azzurri have done enough to ensure a best-ever finish in a tournament where they have often been administered the wooden spoon since joining the Five Nations in 2000.

After a creditable defeat against world champions England at Twickenham, Italy made a breakthrough with a 37-17 win at Edinburgh against Scotland, their first ever win away from Rome in the tournament.

They followed it up with the Wales win to secure their best ever campaign.

At a time when Italy’s favourite sport, football, has been on the receiving end of negative publicity because of match-fixing and crowd violence, rugby has won many plaudits for the friendly atmosphere at matches.

The team received prime ministerial backing today when they were hosted by the country’s premier Romano Prodi at his office in the Palazzo Chigi.

Prodi said: “I have been following the sport since I was a student and used to watch Parma (rugby club) and I have always appreciated the values of the sport. There is team spirit and fair play – something we need a lot of in other atmospheres.”