Gower satisfied despite Italy's lowly place

Italy fly-half Craig Gower believes his side are moving in the right direction, even though they could yet end up with the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon.

The Azzurri face Wales tomorrow knowing a win for Scotland against Ireland would condemn whoever loses the Millennium Stadium clash to last place.

But Gower feels the Azzurri, who ran England and Scotland close after being comprehensively beaten by Ireland, have made strides this year.

“We have to do the basics right and see what comes,” he said. “We are using the ball more than we used to.

“Ireland was a disappointing game for us in terms of moving the ball but we improved against England and Scotland and will be looking to create opportunities.”

Gower has seen the shape of the Italian side change and is looking to help the side improve the quality of their rugby by adapting his own game.

He said: “We have changed from being a forward-based team; I do not want to give the ball away all the time but you have to be smart about the way you play and my job is to make it work, getting us in the right positions and playing a little bit.

“We are building as a team and we want to start getting results away from Rome.”

Italy, the traditional whipping boys of the Six Nations since joining the fold in 2000, have made themselves tough to beat of late, so last week’s 46-20 defeat at the hands of France came as something of a surprise.

“We defended well in Australia and New Zealand last summer and France was a bit of a shock because we had not conceded many tries before that,” said Gower.

“France are pretty good all over the park.”

Coach Nick Mallett yesterday announced four changes to the side which lost against France.

Lock Carlo Del Fava and flanker Paul Derbyshire will both play subject to passing fitness tests after impressing in the second half in Paris.

Marco Bortolami and Josh Sole are on standby to step in if they do not make it.

Wing Kaine Robertson and scrum-half Pablo Canavosio, who scored a try after replacing Tito Tebaldi last weekend, have also been brought into the XV, with Andrea Masi switching to centre.

Mallett had previously fielded the same starting line-up for the matches against England, Scotland and France.