Smal: Italy will attack us in the scrum

Ireland’s forwards coach Gert Smal expects Italy to play to their strengths when they face Ireland in Dunedin and take Declan Kidney’s men on up front, specifically targeting the Irish scrum.

Despite inconsistent form in the scrum over the past number of seasons, Ireland’s front row of Cian Healy, Rory Best and Mike Ross got the upper hand in the set piece against the Wallabies but face a sterner test against Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Salvatore Perugini.