Prop Salvatore Perugini has denied reports of a split in the Italy dressing room.
"The group is united," says Italy prop
Salvatore Perugini has denied reports of divisions in the Italy dressing room ahead of Saturday's RBS Six Nations encounter with Wales.
The Azzurri have conceded a total of more than 100 points during defeats to England, Ireland and Scotland in the opening three rounds of the competition.
Reports in the Italian press claim that several players have allegedly written a letter to Italian Rugby supremo, Giancarlo Dondi, questioning coach Nick Mallett's leadership.
"It's a complete lie," responded prop Perugini.
"None of us have written anything against Mallett. The group is united, compact and aware of our own limits."
Italy go into the game against Wales in desperate need of a win if they are to avoid the wooden spoon.
Perugini is aware of the task his team face against the reigning champions and is under no illusion as to how difficult it will be to defeat them.
"We are inferior to Wales," he admitted. "The foreign press are right about that and we should not be offended by it.
"The problem is that the Italian press lacks reality and objectivity.
"France, Wales and England can do without top players without losing quality and intensity in play.
False expectations
"People write that we can win here and there and that creates false expectations.
"What we need to do is to fly low and if in doing that we manage to play the right game and if others underestimate us, then winning is not impossible."
Wales' hopes of back-to-back Grand Slam titles were ended with a 21-16 defeat in France a fortnight ago and coach Warren Gatland has responded by making wholesale changes for this weekend's game.
That reshuffle is, however, of little consolation for the Azzurri.
"What can I say?" pondered Perugini. "They have a right to do that but then again, they will have to face our willingness on the pitch."
Mallett has made just two changes to the team that lost 26-6 against Scotland at Murrayfield last time out.
Parma utility back Giulio Rubini earns his first international start having come on as a substitute against Scotland, while Carlos Nieto will replace Leicester Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni.
