Mallett: We can demolish Irish frontrow

Italy coach Nick Mallett was in bullish form today ahead of his side’s World Cup clash with Ireland in Dunedin next Sunday.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the Azzurri’s four-try bonus point victory over the US Eagles, the South African claimed his team would target Ireland in the forwards particular in the scrum where they demolished America.

“Our main advantage is our scrum and we dominated them (USA) completely,” said Mallett.

“I’m sorry for the spectators it mightn’t have been as open as they would have liked, but you play to your strengths and we have got a very good frontrow and we deserved the penalty try if not a couple more quite frankly.

“Ireland are a great side and played very well against Australia. They dominated Australia physically but we know perfectly well that we’ve got a better frontrow than Ireland, and we’re going to go in there to prove that on Sunday.

“I’m hoping that Castrogiovanni, Leonardo (Ghiraldini) and Salvatore (Perugini) can put us on the front foot, and if you’re on the front foot it’s makes it more difficult for them.”