Gower wary of Wales as Italy aim to avoid spoon

Published on Thursday 18 March 2010 22:09

ITALY fly-half Craig Gower has warned his team-mates not to underestimate Wales as they attempt to avoid the RBS Six Nations wooden spoon. A Scottish win against Ireland would condemn whoever loses the Millennium Stadium clash to last place.

It is something of a fall from grace for Warren Gatland's men, Grand Slam champions just two years ago. But Gower is reading little into their stuttering form. "I do not think Wales are vulnerable," he said. "They will come out firing and it will be a big challenge for us."

Gower feels the Azzurri have made strides this year, despite again struggling for results. "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.

Italy team to face Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 20 March (kick-off 2:30pm): L McLean (Benetton Treviso); K Robertson (Viadana), A Masi (Racing-Metro), G Garcia (Benetton Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais); C Gower (Bayonne), P Canavosio (Viadana); S Perugini (Bayonne), L Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso, captain), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), CA Del Fava (Viadana) or M Bortolami (Gloucester), Quintin Geldenhuys (Viadana), P Derbyshire (Petrarca Padova) or J Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), A Zanni (Benetton Treviso). Replacements: F Ongaro (Saracens), M Aguero (Saracens), M Bortolami (Gloucester) or V Bernabo, (Futura Park Rugby Roma), J Sole (Viadana) or M Vosawai, T Tebaldi (Plusvalore Gran Parma), R Bocchino (Femi-CZ Rovigo), G Canale (Clermont Auvergne).