Brunel wants 'determined' Italy to rebound for Fiji

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has called for a determined display against Fiji on Saturday to help restore the Azzurri's faith in the wake of their morale-sapping 50-20 thrashing by Australia. Italy began their three-test series hoping to build on a strong 2013 Six Nations, having come close to stunning the Wallabies in a 22-19 defeat this time last year. But despite taking an early 10-0 lead last Saturday, Italy trailed 19-10 by half-time and were reduced to virtual bystanders after the break. Australia's solid, all-round display made amends for their 20-13 defeat to England but simultaneously exposed poor defence and an all-round Italian performance that was peppered with individual errors. Somewhat justifiably, Brunel looked dejected in Turin's Olympic Stadium, where Italy were a poor imitation of the side that beat France and Ireland in last season's Six Nations. The Frenchman has made several changes to his starting XV ahead of what he expects to be a "difficult" game against the South Pacific Islanders, who ran in six tries in a one-sided win away to Portugal last week. But while suggesting rugby's new scrum laws have had a negative impact on Italy's traditionally strong pack, Brunel wants to see the determination that was sorely lacking a week ago. "Against Australia last Saturday the team didn't play to its full potential, and this is certainly one of the reasons we've made so many changes," said Brunel. "We didn't have the collective response I expected and we paid for individual errors. On the one hand, we were organised but on the other there's determination. And that's what was lacking. "Morale is obviously not high after the defeat to the Wallabies but it's clear we expect a different attitude and approach against Fiji, especially with regards to our defence." While captain and No.8 Sergio Parisse and prop Martin Castrogiovanni are set to make their 100th appearances in Cremona, they are among only seven players to retain their starting places. Brunel has reshuffled the three-quarter line with Giovambattista Venditti replacing Tommaso Benevenuti at right wing and veteran Gonzalo Canale coming in at outside centre, with Luca Morisi moving to the inside and Alberto Sgarbi missing out altogether. Tommaso Iannone comes off the bench to start on the left wing in place of Leonardo Sarto, who is likewise dropped. Luciano Orquera replaces Alberto Di Bernardo at fly-half after the latter's ineffective display with the boot last weekend, with Edoardo Gori keeping his post at scrum-half. In the third row, Brunel has opted for experience with Mauro Bergamasco (openside) and Alessandro Zanni (blindside) flanking Parisse, while in the second row Valerio Bernabo and Quintin Geldenhuys replace Marco Bortolami and Antonio Pavanello. The only change to the front row is the return of hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini, with Davide Giazzon dropping to the bench. He will be flanked by props Michele Rizzo and Castrogiovanni. While guaging the players likely to be part of his future Six Nations squad, Brunel will also be hoping Italy's scrum deal better than they did last week when he felt they suffered with the new laws introduced by the IRB this autumn. Compelled to bind in advance, players can no longer push until the ball is in. Scrum-halves now face greater scrutiny to put the ball in straight, theoretically placing more pressure on hookers in packs that have become adept at driving over the ball. "I've seen difficulties in all the matches so far," said Brunel. "Against Australia we had seven put-ins and three against, and our pack just wasn't as effective as we'd expect it to be. "I think the fact it's the referee who decides when the ball is put in offers an advantage to the team which is defending." Source: AFP