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Berbizier not too worried

Bortolami will not be missed, according to Berbizier

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier refuses to believe the loss of injured captain Marco Bortolami will have a significant bearing on the game against Scotland.

The talismanic Gloucester lock has failed to recover from a neck injury, and will miss one of the biggest games in his country's history.

The Azzurri have struggled this tournament even with Bortolami in their ranks for their first three games.

They were swept aside 76-14 by New Zealand first up, and then failed to pick up bonus points in limp victories over Romania and Portugal.

"We don't have Bortolami, but we haven't shown anything so far in the tournament with Bortolami on the field," Berbizier said.

"Now is the time to find the answers at a team level and not an individual level.

"The match was prepared with the players I had at my disposal. Therefore, it shouldn't have a huge impact.

"His absence won't change our tactical game-plan."

Italy's second row will now comprise Carlo Del Fava and the fit-again Santiago Dellape.

Del Fava, who started the 31-5 defeat of Portugal in Paris last time out, came close to missing the World Cup because of a knee injury.

The new Ulster recruit made a quicker-than-expected recovery and now finds himself about to play the biggest game of his life.

"It's funny how things worked out for me," said the South African-born 26-year-old.

"I almost miss the Rugby World Cup due to injury and now I'm a starter in our most important match."

"We will miss as influential a leader as Marco. But it won't change my role that much.

"It'll be more of a change for Santiago Dellape. I will still be jumping in the front of the line out, but he will move to the middle.

"I guess Marco will talk to him and give him some advice."

Veteran scrum-half Alessandro Troncon will take over the captaincy in Bortolami's absence.

The 34-year-old will step into the breach after ousting Paul Griffen in the race for the number nine jersey, but he does not see wearing the armband as an extra burden.

"I'm just the interim captain for this match and I'm sure Marco will have a lot of things to tell us before the kick-off," said the Clermont-Auvergne scrum-half, who will make his 101st appearance for his country.

"This doesn't change things much. I don't see it as a burden for me. It's an honour and a nice responsibility."

With their last game coming a week and a half ago, Italy have had plenty of time to iron out their many faults this tournament.

The loss to New Zealand was expected, although the manner of the defeat would have been an early worry for Berbizier.

They then followed it up with clueless performances against Romania and Portugal, during which games their back line failed to fire.

Indeed, the 26-point margin of victory over the Iberian amateurs flattered Italy.

With his first-choice backs available to him and Ramiro Pez recalled to fly-half instead of Roland de Marigny, Berbizier will hope his side regain some fluency.

"I took this decision (about recalling Pez) because he is the one who has played the most with Troncon and Mirco Bergamasco and Gonzalo Canale," said the Frenchman.

"It's a tactical decision to give the team more uniformity."

If Italy required any encouragement, they would only need to look at videotapes of their last game against Scotland - a 37-17 victory at Murrayfield in this year's Six Nations.

They capitalised on glaring errors by the Scots that day, and showed a defensive resolve that will probably be required on Saturday.