Mallett: Italy are motivated

Coach claims Azzurri will be playing for injured captain

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 27th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Mallett: Italy are motivated

Mallett: Claims Italy are motivated

I think the injury of Parisse represents an extra motivation for my team to do well against Samoa

Nick Mallett
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Italy coach Nick Mallett believes his team will be motivated to win their Test against Samoa by the injury of captain Sergio Parisse.

The Azzurri will be without the skipper, who will be sidelined for at least four months after sustaining a serious right knee injury in training on Thursday.

Mallett is urging Italy to go out and win the clash for Parisse and believes replacement captain Leonardo Ghiraldini will be a capable substitute.

"I think the injury of Parisse represents an extra motivation for my team to do well against Samoa," said Mallett.

"When Sergio got injured and he remained on the floor, we immediately understood the seriousness of the situation and right away I made some changes to the squad.

"I have a lot of confidence in Alessandro Zanni as number eight and in Leonardo Ghiraldini who will lead the team as captain with Parisse out."

Confident

Italy, who have not seen victory since June 2008 when they edged Argentina 13-12, are desperate to end a 13-game run of defeats, and Ghiraldini is confident he can lead the team back to their winning ways.

"We are all saddened for what has happened to Sergio and we cannot wait to see him return to play as soon as possible," said Ghiraldini.

"With regards to being captain, this extra responsibility will not condition my approach to the game but it will be an added motivation to do well.

"We are very concentrated for the game against Samoa.

"They are a much easier rival than New Zealand and South Africa but it still remains a very high-level match."

Samoa were beaten by Wales two weeks ago and France in Paris last weekend, and Ghiraldini believes the Azzurri will have to employ an aggressive approach from the off in order to end their three-match drought against the Pacific islanders.

"France imposed their play from the start against Samoa and knew when to hit

them," he added.

"We will have to do the same thing. I believe that as a group we can do that."