Mallett’s Italy aiming to nail Wales

Feb 12 2008 Western Mail

ITALY coach Nick Mallett has warned Wales it is only a matter of time before his side chalks up a Six Nations victory.

After giving England a serious scare in Rome on Sunday before time ran out on his team’s bid to cause a shock, Mallett is adamant his players are capable of getting their campaign up and running.

“I know that if we carry on like this we will soon get a win,” he said. “I have no doubt about that. It isn’t for want of trying.”

Indeed, Italian rugby as a whole has been quick to focus on the positives after pushing England to the brink of an humiliating defeat.

Try-scoring scrum-half Simon Picone epitomised the belief that is surging through Italian ranks.

Picone came on as a substitute and charged down Danny Cipriani’s kick to reduce England’s lead to just four points with four minutes remaining.

It capped a valiant fightback from the Azzurri and despite just falling short of victory in Rome, Picone is upbeat about the future.

“I didn’t go to Danny Cipriani to say thank you, it didn’t seem right,” Picone said.

“This try has been the most beautiful thing that could have happened in my career.

“It’s the most significant after making my debut with Italy four years ago against Ireland.”

It was a special occasion for the 25-year-old, who had not played for the Azzurri since 2006 because of a shoulder injury which forced him to miss last year’s Six Nations tournament and the World Cup.

“In the national team even if you play limited minutes you always have to give everything you’ve got,” Picone said.

“In modern rugby you play with 22 players and the bench players are crucial for a great team. Whoever goes in knows that he can change things and increase the rhythm of the game and that is what I tried to do.

“The English team yesterday were struggling at the end.”

Sunday’s result marked the Azzurri’s second defeat of the campaign after their opening loss to Ireland.

Mallett is expected to have Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami available after missing the last two games with an eye injury.

MUNSTER assistant coach Jim Williams will leave Thomond Park at the end of the season after accepting an approach from the Wallabies.

Williams has agreed terms with the Australian Rugby Union that will see him work beneath new head coach Robbie Deans.

The move will end Williams’ seven-year association with Munster and the former Wallaby back-rower is eager to help revive the national side’s fortunes.

“To be asked to coach at Test level is such a huge honour and one that any coach would jump at,” he said. “It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around too often and I’m really looking forward to linking up with Robbie Deans.

“It’s an exciting challenge at a time when Australian rugby maybe needs to go in a different direction and I’m looking forward to being part of that process.”

“Being a part of the Munster set-up over the past eight seasons has been one of the great periods of my career professionally and on a personal level.”

Williams’ contract with Munster runs until 2009 but Garrett Fitzgerald, the province’s chief executive, has allowed him to leave early.

“From our own perspective we are obviously disappointed to see Jim go,” said Fitzgerald.

“He has been a huge asset to us both as a player and more recently as a coach.

“However, we do recognise the honour and importance of his new role and wish him every success.”

Williams made his debut for Munster in the 40-19 Celtic League win over Connacht at Thomond Park in 2001 and went on the win 74 caps for the 2006 European champions.

He was made captain in 2004 and led the team to the Celtic League final in 2005, before ending his playing career to become a coach.

Williams, who played 14 Tests in Australia’s back row between 1999 and 2000, will work alongside forwards coach Michael Foley as part of a streamlined Wallabies back-room team.