Warrior ready for Italy's finest World Cup hour

Mauro Bergamasco hopes to be putting the boots on at his fourth Rugby World Cup tournament when the Azzurri clash with Australia. Photo / Getty Images

Mauro Bergamasco has one of those warrior faces which could tell a thousand rugby stories.

It has been banged about and squashed at the bottom of rucks in the Italian cause for 13 years and now he's back again, his shoulder to the Azzurri wheel as they chase what could be their finest World Cup achievement.

The flanker has played 85 tests, since his debut against the Netherlands as a 19-year-old in 1998; this will be his fourth cup tournament, a feat being matched by Italy's amiable bearded prop Andrea Lo Cicero.

Bergamasco's first job is to convince Italian coach Nick Mallett to reinstate him in the loose forward mix for their opening game against Australia at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday.

Bergamasco missed this year's Six Nations tournament through injury.

That meant he was absent from one of Italian rugby's finest hours, their 22-21 maiden Six Nations win over France in Rome in March.

Considering they could have beaten Wales, and would have edged out Ireland, but for Ronan O'Gara's last-minute dropped goal, the signs are there; Italian rugby is improving.

So Bergamasco is ideally placed to put the present Italian team into context.

"This is the most complete team, really complete and maybe the strongest," he said yesterday.

He's confident that if Italy plays to their optimum, they'll be in with a shout of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in seven attempts.

"I think we can do something really important, if we play to 100 per cent," he said. "We want to be competitive. We are working to be at a high level and make trouble for the biggest teams."

Trouble also has a place on the Bergamasco CV.

In 2007, he clouted Welsh first five-eighths Stephen Jones and got a four-week ban. A year later, gouging Jones' teammate Lee Byrne cost Bergamasco a 17-week holiday.

In his absence this year, Italy's back row has comprised No 8 and captain Sergio Parisse and Alessandro Zanni - one a world-class operator, the other a 54-cap veteran with solid lineout and defensive skills to his name - while Paul Derbyshire and Robert Barbieri have received their opportunity.

Bergamasco's brother, 28-year-old goalkicking back Mirco, is also in the squad, aiming to add to his 82 caps.

An Italian side without both Bergamascos is a bit like pasta without the sauce, such has been their longevity and impact.

After playing Australia, Italy have the pool C lightweights - in rugby terms, anyway - Russia and the United States, before facing Ireland in the clutch game of the group, in Dunedin on October 2.

In the past six tournaments, Italy have won just seven games.

High time, Bergamasco reckons, to break through the knockout door.

If Italy do that, it will not only be a pleasing full stop on Mallett's four years in charge - his contract has been ended by the Italian federation - but also a nice way to allow the 32-year-old Bergamasco to again ponder his future.

"Four years ago I thought 'I want to go to the World Cup [of 2007], and then I will think what I want to do'," he said, code for perhaps putting his international boots away.

"I know today I want to play rugby, I enjoy it and I'm happy to be here."

Italy will be happy, too, if Bergamasco is at his vital, belligerent best over the next few weeks.

ITALY v AUSTRALIA
Sunday, 3.30pm, North Harbour Stadium