Rugby: Mallett plots Italian resurgence

Nick Mallett says Italy have improved. Photo / Getty Images

Granted, he's had to deal with head-hitter "dangerous Dan" Carter this week and it's not been the easiest season all round for All Blacks coach Graham Henry. But life could be worse. He could be Italy coach Nick Mallett.

As Henry was putting a few of the final touches to his new-look team facing Italy in Milan on Saturday, Mallett was enduring a three-hour drive from his squad's Pisa training base up to the Po valley and Milan. Even when he got there, the former South African coach wasn't sure what sort of a side he had together to face New Zealand, a rugby nation he calls "the Manchester United or Brazil of rugby".

Coaching Italy has reinforced a strong streak of pragmatism within the soul of a South African who once coached the Springboks to a world record-equalling 17 successive test victories. These days, he is more likely to threaten the record for successive test losses. Italy haven't won a single game this year and with New Zealand and South Africa to be confronted on the next two weekends, the short-term forecast does not look great. Perhaps only Samoa, whom the Italians face at the end of the month, offer a modicum of hope for a win before 2010.

Mallett's team lost every game in the Six Nations Championship this year. They then lost twice to Australia and once to New Zealand on their June tour. Wasn't that a daft schedule when he's trying to build confidence in the young Italian squad?

"There wasn't anything we could do about it. We are in a cycle of tours which was put into place over four years ago, long before I became Italian coach. Yes, it would have been fantastic to play some lesser teams - perhaps the likes of Romania, Canada, etc. But we couldn't. Now we're having to play two more Southern Hemisphere sides at home in November, the two who just happen to be the top two in the world."

But Mallett has called for a realistic target for his men. "I was very nervous going into the tour down south in June, especially after we lost to France by 50 points in the Six Nations. But I was proud of our boys and what they achieved on that tour. To hold those two very good attacking sides, New Zealand and Australia, to a difference of about 20 points each time, was commendable from our point of view.

"You cannot compare our players with All Blacks or Wallabies who play regular Super 14 rugby. It is a world apart. If we can repeat the exercise these next two weekends, if we can be competitive and give our best, we could repeat what we did in June against New Zealand and Australia. I would accept that."

Doesn't Mallett fear for his future if Italy finish the year completely white-washed?

"I have never bothered about a win-lose ratio in this job" he says. "When I took over, I knew what the calendar would be like. How can you build up confidence when you have fixtures like these? I prepare the side to do the best they can. If the pressure on the president from others is such that he feels he must act, so be it. That is not something that worries me.

Mallett does not try to mask the Italians' failings. "We're back to square one in a way. We had a relatively successful first year, but the second season saw a very poor Six Nations. We have improved a huge amount in the last two years in terms of restructuring but we need certain things to go our way now, like the Celtic League accepting two of our teams into their competition. That would make a huge difference for the long term."

As for tomorrow, damage limitation is in the air. "New Zealand, with their mixture of cultures, love running with the ball. They have a vibrant running game and you can be sure, every one of the 15 players they will put onto the field on Saturday will be desperate to become All Blacks and honour that jersey."

Never mind, Nick - chin up. It's the Springboks next week!