Mallett: Improving Italy ready for Ireland

Nick Mallett insists Italy’s final assault on the World Cup quarter-finals will be strengthened by the belief they have come of age in Test rugby.

The Azzurri will reach the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time if they beat Ireland in Sunday’s winner-takes-all showdown at Otago Stadium.

“We have turned ourselves into a team that is respected by every other side in the world,” said Mallett.

“We lost 76-14 to New Zealand in the 2007 World Cup. The last time we played them in New Zealand we conceded three tries and lost 27-6 with a great performance.

“We then played the All Blacks in Milan, but lost only 20-6 and in the last 10 minutes we probably should have had a penalty try.

“We’ve completely turned around the way other teams think about Italy.

“They used to be confident enough to put their B team in against us, but now no-one does that.

“In so many ways this team has earned the respect of the opposition.”

Mallett will stand down as Italy coach at the end of the World Cup, concluding a four-year reign that has included the Azzurri’s greatest RBS 6 Nations result with this year’s win against France.

“From my point of view it’s going to be a difficult day for me when I leave because I’m very close to the players,” said the South African.

“Rugby’s given me a tremendous amount but in terms of human relationships this is the closest I’ve been to a team.

“Italian rugby has progressed tremendously in the past two years.

“Not only have we improved in the fact we’ve lost to the top sides by less, but we’ve beaten them on every occasion we can.

“History will tell only once you’ve been away for a while whether you’ve been a successful coach, but in terms of the relationship I have with the team and the staff, it’s been a great four years.

“And I’ve enjoyed the last two years probably as much as I’ve enjoyed coaching any team.”

Mallett insists Italy’s reaction to their 13-11 defeat by Ireland in February, when Italy were beaten only by a late Ronan O’Gara drop-goal, is evidence of the way their own expectations have changed.

“I remember the game clearly because it was very, very disappointing,” he said.

“The changing room was very quiet and one of the first occasions I’ve seen an Italian team, really, really disappointed at doing very well against another Six Nations team.

“A lot of times in the past they’ve been disappointed to lose, but pleased to run the opposition close.

“This was one of the first times there was genuine disappointment that they hadn’t managed to hold out and win that game.

“That’s a very good sign because it meant the team had started to believe it wasn’t just good enough to be competitive, it was really important to win tight games.

“That experience helped us against France a couple of weeks later. We hung in there and came out with a victory.

“That’s a mental side of this Italian side that has improved a lot over the four years.

“The players are not satisfied just to compete, they really would like to beat their Six Nations counterparts.”