Kirwan: Players stake claims

Italian coach John Kirwan was content that several of his players staked claims to face the All Blacks during his side's scrappy 37-13 win over Manawatu.

In a tour-opener spoiled by a slippery surface in Palmerston North, Italy showed patches of form, particularly midway through the second half when they scored three of their four tries in quick succession.

Otherwise, second-division Manawatu punched above their weight against the Six Nations' team, trailing just 16-13 after 55 minutes.

Former All Black Kirwan is desperate for his team to be competitive in the one-off test in Hamilton on June 8.

He said yesterday that there were good signs to emerge from Wednesday night's match.

"There were guys out there who put their hands up and said 'I want to get picked'," said Kirwan, who will field a completely different team in their other pre-test game, against the New Zealand Divisional XV on Sunday in Taupo.

"I'm trying to create equality on tour and I've told them that they're all available for the test, which will be the biggest highlight in a lot of their lives."

Although he fielded several test-hardened players, there was also some extremely raw talent on show, including second five-eighth Matteo Barbini and No 8 Sergio Parisse, who are new faces at club level in Italy.

Central to Italy's first win in nearly six months was a strong scrum, but their lineouts were the worst aspect of their performance.

However, the arrival today of the most experienced player in their tour party, lock Mark Giacheri, could turn around that aspect of their game.

Kirwan said an improvement would be critical against stronger opponents on Sunday.

"We'll find the Divisional team another step up and that's important for the team.

"We've come here to win these two games, so the next match is probably the most important on tour."

Kirwan's assistant coach, Leicester Rutledge, believed the rusty opening could be attributed to a build-up which was far from ideal, along with first-up nerves.

"We had a big flight on Sunday, about 60 hours. We've had very little preparation."

* The Palmerston North City Council has labelled the All Blacks offside for training everywhere else but at the Rugby Institute at Massey University.

One councillor said the city had "been absolutely duped" with its financing of the facility.

Palmerston North ratepayers will spend $50,000 on the institute this year, and have been funding the institute with the expectation the All Blacks would train there.

The team used the facility once last year and won't use it at all this year.

But other sides have trained there.

The council has written to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union asking why the All Blacks have been to Whangamata, Nelson and Hanmer Springs this year, but not to Palmerston North.

- NZPA