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MARSEILLE - Italy have run out of excuses after three below-par performances at the World Cup and must show their true strength when they take on Scotland on Saturday, captain Alessandro Troncon said on Friday.
"I don't think we have excuses for the three matches we played so far and that were not at our real level," the 34-year-old halfback told reporters at the captain's run in St Etienne.
"Obviously, we've been talking a lot, especially about the mistakes we've made. That's part of the preparation for a match like the one we have tomorrow. We'll try to show we are capable of playing a better rugby."
Troncon, making his 101st appearance for the national side, will be captaining the side in the absence of skipper Marco Bortolami who misses out on the must-win game because of a neck injury.
Italy were crushed 76-14 in their opening match against the All Blacks, struggled to a 24-18 victory over Romania in their second and gave another laboured display in their 31-5 win against Portugal.
But coach Pierre Berbizier said he was confident his team could improve on those performances and rise to the occasion against the Scots on Saturday.
"Right now, I have an exceptional group of people," said the former France halfback. "None of them has looked for excuses. We know we've been having some troubles, but we all accepted this reality.
"We kept working and the players have the will to show different stuff. I like our team spirit and we want to change our present (situation)."
Italy beat Scotland 37-17 the last time the two sides met at Murrayfield in the Six Nations in February. Scotland, however, have reached the quarter-finals at each of the five previous World Cups.
- REUTERS
