Mallett demands end of Italian indiscipline

Published on 25/02/2009 21:23

ITALY coach Nick Mallett hopes his players have learned their lesson and show more discipline in their RBS Six Nations game against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The Azzurri are desperate to spark their tournament into life after defeats in England and at home against Ireland in their opening two encounters.

Mallett blamed his team's lack of indiscipline for their 38-9 loss to Ireland in Rome on 15 February which followed their 36-11 loss at Twickenham.

"The individual mistakes have cost us a lot," said Mallett. "We have given away seven tries in our opening two games due to our mistakes and this cannot be.

"Against Ireland, we made 75 tackles and we only recovered three balls and this is a problem for us."

Italy shot themselves in the foot against Ireland with full-back Andrea Masi and Salvatore Perugini both yellow-carded. Masi was handed a three-week suspension following a dangerous tackle on Robert Kearney in the first minute of the game, an action Mallett says was inexcusable.

"He has lacked discipline and intelligence," said the Italy coach. "We cannot give our opponents an advantage at this level because, as we have seen, we will pay for our mistakes."

Although Italy have won their past two Six Nations encounters with the Scots, Mallett is not taking them for granted. He continued: "Scotland against Wales and France played well even though they lost both games.

"They have a new playmaker in Phil Godman, who is very fast and very dangerous in the last ten metres."

Italy centre Mirco Bergamasco, who has been shifted to the wing, leaving Gonzalo Garcia to partner Gonzalo Canale at centre for the game against Scotland, believes his team will need to show a vast improvement in attack.

"We face a very different Scotland team, with respect to the past," admitted Bergamasco. "They have faster players, with respect to Ireland."

Lock Marco Bortolami and Andrea Marcato return to the starting XV, while hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini will make his debut in this year's tournament.

Italy team to play Scotland in the RBS Six Nations championship at Murrayfield on Saturday, kick-off 3pm

15 A Marcato (Treviso)

14 Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Fra)

13 G Canale (Clerm-Auvergne)

12 G Garcia (Calvisano)

11 M Pratichetti (Calvisano)

10 L McLean (Calvisano)

9 P Griffen (Calvisano)

1 S Perugini (Toulouse)

2 L Ghiraldini (Calvisano)

3 M Castrogiovanni (Leicester)

4 S Dellape (Toulon)

5 M Bortolami (Gloucester)

6 A Zanni (Calvisano)

7 Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Fra)

8 S Parisse (Stade Francais)

Subs: F Ongaro (Saracens), C Nieto (Gloucester), C A Del Fava (Ulster), P Canavosio (Viadana), J Sole (Viadana), A Bacchetti (Rovigo), G Rubini (Cariparma).