Rugby World Cup: Italy's footballers offer rugby colleagues inspiration

Mirco Bergamasco and Gonzalo Canale celebrates after their Six Nations win against France. Photo / Getty Images

Italy is a powerhouse of world football and won the World Cup in 2006. The country's rugby players hope to capture some of that magic when they play Ireland in a key World Cup game at Otago Stadium on Sunday night.

Centre Gonzalo Canale, 28, who was born in Argentina but developed his rugby in Italy, has friends in the Italian football team.

"We know some of the guys from the football team and we have received calls of good wishes from some of them," Canale said.

"We are talking and texting each other on a regular basis and they congratulated us on the win against the United States."

The footballers have passed on good wishes but they have not been presumptuous enough to give the rugby team any technical advice.

Former coach John Kirwan brought Canale into the Italian squad for the 2003 World Cup in Australia and he had 68 caps before coming to New Zealand.

Italy has a strong pack and it is up to the backline to capitalise on the good ball it will win.

"We know how strong the Irish backs are. They are experienced and it will be a physical challenge for us. But we have a more solid group of backs than four years ago, " Canale said.

Italy came close to claiming a quarter-final berth four years ago but narrowly lost its last pool game to Scotland 18-16 and missed out.

"We know it will be a very tough game but we are used to playing higher ranking teams. We showed in the Six Nations that we can manage Ireland's game, " Canale said.

Italy has been part of the Six Nations since 2000 and this has helped the development of its rugby.

"We have improved in the last 11 years and deserve to be part of this competition," Canale said.

Italy has played 19 tests against Ireland, winning three and losing 16. But the gap is closing, and Ireland narrowly beat Italy 13-11 in this year's Six Nations.

"But February's game is in the past and we have just seen that Ireland is in great shape after beating Australia," Canale said.

"We want to end our Rugby World Cup in the best possible way. We are confident enough to do the job and it is now up to us as players to make it real."

Assistant coach Alessandro Troncon was pleased with the Italian scrum in the 27-10 win against the United States in Nelson on Tuesday. But he admits work still needs to be done on the lineout.

"It is not yet 100 per cent," he said. "Ireland will be a challenge for us, especially playing two games in five days. But we have a very fit team. We have improved a lot in the last four years."

The 22-21 win against France in this year's Six Nations gave confidence to Italy.

"It was one of our best games and it showed that if we stay with our game plan we can beat anyone in the world," Troncon said.

-APNZ