ITALY

The Azzurri are starting to take bigger scalps and are not to be underestimated

- Words Alan Pearey

FORM GUIDE

Italy have beaten Australia and Scotland in the past seven months, as well as coming within an ace of thwarting Ireland in Dublin. Best of all was defeating England for the first time, at the 33rd attempt, in the Roman rain. The defeat to Wales in the Six Nations, in which they finished fourth, was evidence that this growing Italian force retains a certain vulnerability.

STRENGTHS