The Sports Corner

Fired up Azzurri ready for Wallabies

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has taken a leap of faith in his touring squad’s inexperienced players and will unleash them against a tough Italian pack in Padova on Saturday.

The Italians always play with a lot of passion and heart, and with a world class forward pack they will provide a perfect test for the Wallabies lesser lights.

Most notably Deans has put his faith in league convert Timana Tahu who comes into the team at starting inside centre at the expense of fellow convert Ryan Cross who played well against the All Blacks. Tahu has been on the outer since his terrible run on debut against the Springboks in Pretoria where his poor defence was targeted from the opening whistle and the Wallabies Tri-Nations hopes shattered on the back of a 53-8 thrashing.

The Wallabies have opted for flying wingers Lachie Turner and Digby Ioane, resting incumbents Peter Hynes and Drew Mitchell.

Berrick Barnes will also get a chance to start in his old position at flyhalf after being most recently the Wallabies first choice inside centre. The game could also mark the first Test in which Australia has dressed a teenager since David Campese. Seventeen year old teen sensation James O’Connor is expected to be named to the bench and if all runs according to plan will get solid playing time in relief of Adam Ashley-Cooper at fullback in the second half.

O’Connor isn’t the only rookie in the squad with Ben Alexander set to make his debut in the starting front row. Alexander is the only player in the squad never to started a Super 14 match and has six appearances from the bench in the competition. He will face a hardened Italian pack.

“They’re very old school who play European style and love to slug it out - scrums, driving mauls,” he said. ”So if we’re going to win this game, it’s going to start with us forwards manning up and providing a decent platform for the backs.”

The Azzurri were posed to name Aussie born flyhalf Luke McLean in their lineup but coach Nick Mallet has decided against the move and will dress veteran campaigner Andrea Marcato instead. Mallet was realistic about the Azzurri’s chances.

“The difference in standard is so enormous that they could pick a Super 14 side from NSW and it would be very hard for Italy to win that game,” he said. ”The quality of southern hemisphere rugby is so much quicker and so much more physical that anything that Italy has at club level.

“What will be a big shock to these (Italian) guys is the ability to play at the pace. Normally, what they can do is compete for 40, 50 minutes and then we’ve just got to see how it goes in the last 20, 30.”